IPSWICH Town chief executive Simon Clegg says the club will be supporting Michael Chopra after the player was charged with various breaches of the rules of horse racing.

Nine people, including Blues striker Chopra and jockey Andrew Heffernan, have been charged in connection with race-fixing by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

A club spokesman said: “This morning Ipswich Town Football Club was made aware that the BHA had charged Michael Chopra and eight other individuals with various breaches of the rules of racing.

“Since that time Town’s chief executive, Simon Clegg, has been working with Michael to understand the full extent of the allegations and the background which led to the charges being made.”

Commenting on behalf of the Club, Mr Clegg said: “Serious allegations of misconduct have been made against Michael by the BHA relating to events which occurred before Michael joined Ipswich Town.

“It needs to be recognised that at this time the charges made against Michael are unproven. Michael will be seeking his own legal advice on this issue, but we will support the player as we have done with his previous well published challenges and as he goes through the inquiry process.

“We will be making no further comment on this matter at this time, as we view it as a private matter between the player and a non-football authority.”

Chopra and four others have been charged with offering bribes to Heffernan, a former British licensed jockey now riding in Australia.

Three other people have been charged with other breaches of the rules of racing, the BHA has announced.

Paul Scotney, the BHA’s integrity, compliance and licensing director, said: “The charges BHA has issued are the result of a long and complicated investigation. This process has taken significant time and resources.”