English third-tier club Oldham Athletic confirmed on Monday that they are debating whether to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans despite an angry backlash from fans and sponsors.
Evans, a former Wales international, was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for the rape of a 19-year-old woman at a North Wales hotel in May 2011.
British media reports on Sunday claimed that Oldham were considering offering the 26-year-old striker a route back into the game and chief executive Neil Joy confirmed that talks within the club were ongoing.
“Oldham Athletic is not at this stage making any official announcement with regard to the speculation concerning Ched Evans,” he told reporters outside the club’s Boundary Park home, reading from a statement.
“Whilst acknowledging the considerable media attention, we continue to have conversations with representative bodies such as the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) and will conduct due diligence with regard to any decision we make on this matter.”
News of Oldham’s reported interest in Evans sparked immediate outcry in the local area, with 25,000 people signing an online petition against the signing and a major club sponsor threatening to withdraw support.
Speaking earlier in the day, manager Lee Johnson had said the decision about whether to offer Evans a contract was a matter for the League One club’s board.
“I understand these are very difficult circumstances. I respect that for everyone. It’s a board decision,” he told reporters.
Asked if the board had decided against signing Evans, Johnson replied: “I don’t want to comment. Whatever the board decides, I will be a part of.”
One of Oldham’s main sponsors, Verlin Rainwater Solutions, said it would end its involvement with the club if they signed Evans.
Evans’s former club Sheffield United allowed him to train with them last year at the request of British players’ union the PFA.
But they withdrew their offer in November after a backlash from fans, sponsors and club patrons, with over 165,000 people signing a petition against it.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has said that his organisation will support any club that decide to sign Evans.
Evans came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and joined Sheffield United in 2009 for a fee of £3 million ($4.6 million, 3.8 million euros).
He scored 48 goals in 113 games for Sheffield United and has made 13 appearances for Wales, scoring once.
Evans maintains his innocence, and an investigation into his conviction by Britain’s Criminal Cases Review Commission is ongoing.
Oldham have previously offered a contract to a player who has served a jail sentence, having signed striker Lee Hughes in 2007 after he served half of a six-year prison term for causing death by dangerous driving.