Ipswich v Derby: PAUL Jewell remains Ipswich Town manager – but his days appear numbered following a no show for the media in the wake of tonight’s worryingly predictable collapse against Derby County.

A 2-1 home defeat saw the Blues slip to the foot of the Championship table, with a 1-0 lead let slip for the fifth successive game.

Having considered quitting in the wake of his side’s loss at Hull City last Saturday, Jewell did not undertake a post-match interview for the first time in his 21-month spell at the club.

Instead, assistant boss Chris Hutching emerged 45 minutes after the final whistle.

He said: “He’s not here because he’s in the office watching the DVD, going through trying to put things right.

“He’s manager at this football club right at this moment. That’s how as it is right at this moment in time.”

Asked if he felt he and Jewell would still be in the dug-out for Saturday’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchings continued: “You’d need to ask (owner) Marcus (Evans) that question. We’re bottom of the league, but we’ll go about our jobs unless we’re told otherwise.

“Has Paul spoken to Marcus yet? I don’t think he has. I think he’s in Barbados. As far as I know, no.”

He continued: “He (Jewell) is pretty fed up. He wears his heart on his sleeve. You saw on Saturday how very, very disappointed he was and he’s disappointed again tonight.

“He says it how it is, but we’ve got to come out fighting again. We’ve got a game to prepare for on Saturday (at home against Sheffield Wednesday).

“I thought we played quite well in the first half, scored a good goal and then we let them get back in the game.

“The players have to take responsibility as well. It’s not just the manager and the coaches. Players have to take responsibility out there and do the right things at the right time.”