Oldham and PFA's Taylor "Was this a cover up" ?

[bennythedip2]

Oldham in talks with Evans

Convicted rapist Ched Evans has been in fresh talks with Oldham about joining the League One club, Press Association Sport understands.

Club bosses insisted in December they would not be offering Evans a contract or an opportunity to train but it is understood further talks have taken place since then.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor revealed a League One club will hold a press conference on Monday in relation to the signing of 26-year-old striker Evans, but would not name the club involved.

Evans wants to return to football after being released from prison in October. He served two-and-a-half years of a five-year sentence after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in 2011.

Oldham were not available for comment. On December 1 the club had issued a statement saying: "The board ofdirectors would like to confirm that we will not be extending an invitation for Ched Evans to train with Oldham Athletic nor will we be offering him a contract. The club will not be making any further comment on this subject."

Evans had an offer to train with former club Sheffield United retracted in November following strong local opposition, while Tranmere and Hartlepool also rejected the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old striker.

He was initially given permission by the Blades to return to train with the club at the request of the PFA. But following a backlash from Blades supporters, sponsors and patrons opposed to Evans' return - 160,000 people signed a petition against it - the club retracted the offer.

PFA chief Taylor said the players' union had not asked any club to sign Evans but would support them doing so.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "The club are due to hold the press conference tomorrow and I've made it clear to them that I cannot attend tomorrow.

"Bearing in mind what happened with his release and then of course the furore that we had at Sheffield United we feel that any club wishing to sign him needs to be 100 per cent committed to signing him for proper and legitimate football reasons."

Any move to sign Evans is likely to lead to public outcry, but Taylor is keen to avoid a similar situation to the one that engulfed Sheffield United after they made their offer to the player.

"I don't want to create a replica-type situation that we had at Sheffield (United) because I'm a little bit concerned that we need a press conference and that will invite, of course, many antagonists," he said.

Taylor said the PFA appreciated the situation was "very sensitive", but reiterated its stance that Evans deserved the chance to resume his career following his release from prison.

"We've made it clear in our statements that we feel he's been unable to say much because of the appeals process, but he has served his time and the job of society is to look to rehabilitate," Taylor said.

On Friday Maltese side Hibernians revealed that they had made a contract offer to Evans for the remainder of the season, although the BBC quoted a spokesman for Evans denying the player received such an offer.

However, any move abroad is unlikely to materialise given the UK's tough regime in managing sex offenders.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We are determined to have one of the toughest regimes in the world for managing sex offenders, to stop them re-offending and to protect victims.

"Probation officers must give permission for sex offenders on licence to take up new jobs and this includes ensuring they hold regular face to face meetings - this effectively rules out working abroad.

"The offenders will also be subject to strict conditions such as exclusion zones, non-contact orders and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes."

Reports have named Oldham as the club in question despite clubs bosses insisting in December they would not be offering Evans a contract or an opportunity to train.

Evans wants to return to football after being released from prison in October. He served two-and-a-half years of a five-year sentence after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in 2011.

The Sun has named the club in question as being Oldham - Taylor would not name the club but confirmed that a media briefing is scheduled to take place.

[bennythedip2]

Sponsors threat to Oldham .. (Monday January 5 2015)

One of Oldham's main sponsors has said it will be "out of the door" if the club sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Craig Verling, a director of Verlin Rainwater Solutions which sponsors a stand at Boundary Park, said the company would terminate its involvement with the Latics if Evans joins up.

Oldham are reported to be holding a board meeting to decide whether to pursue their interest in Evans, although no confirmation was immediately available from the club on Monday morning. Evans was not part of the group which arrived at Boundary Park on Monday morning to make its way down to the club's training ground.

Verling told Press Association Sport: "The club know our stance and that is if they sign or allow Ched Evans to train we will be out of the door.

"We had a conversation with the club when they considered allowing Ched Evans to train with them six to eight weeks ago, and we were led to believe they had listened to the general input.

"But our sources have made it clear he will be training or signing for the club this week and it is not something we wish to be associated with."

News of Evans' potential signing attracted a major media presence to Boundary Park on Monday morning.

On Friday Maltese side Hibernians revealed that they had made a contract offer to Evans for the remainder of the season, although the BBC quoted a spokesman for Evans denying the player received such an offer.

However, any move abroad is unlikely to materialise given the UK's tough regime in managing sex offenders.

[bennythedip2]

Evans statement on the way ..Last Updated: January 6 2015, 3 40pm

Oldham and the Professional Footballers' Association are preparing a joint statement over the future of convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Oldham and the Professional Footballers' Association are preparing a joint statement over the future of convicted rapist Ched Evans.

The League One club confirmed on Monday that they are considering taking the controversial step of offering Evans a route back into professional football.

Further discussions involving the players' union were held today and a mutually-agreed statement is being drawn up, according to PFA sources.

[bennythedip2]

Ched Evans talks to continue.. Last Updated: January 6 2015, 4.40pm

Talks on convicted rapist Ched Evans signing for Oldham have concluded for the day without a decision being taken on his future.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and the club had begun drawing up a joint statement but several issues remain to be settled and discussions will continue on Wednesday.

The League One club confirmed on Monday that they are considering taking the controversial step of offering Evans a route back into professional football and it is believed Oldham are seeking further assurances from the PFA and other authorities.

Even Prime Minister David Cameron has become involved in the issue, which has also divided supporters.

Asked at a regular Westminster news briefing whether Cameron thought Evans should be given a new footballing contract, the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "His view hasn't changed (from) ... the time when there were reports around Sheffield United.

"Ultimately, it is for employers to take decisions, but the Prime Minister does think that footballers are role models and he is sure that any potential would-be clubs and employers will weigh their decisions very carefully."

Evans was released from prison last October halfway through a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman.

Since then, he has been rejected by Hartlepool and Tranmere. Former club Sheffield United offered the striker a chance to train with them last November but they retracted the invitation after it caused uproar.

Oldham, however, chose to begin a second round of negotiations with the Welshman despite insisting last month that they would not sign Evans. It has led to more than 35,000 people signing an online petition urging them not to do so.

The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) said fans were split over the issue of whether Evans should be given the chance to play professional football again.

An FSF spokesman said: "There is no clear consensus from fans one way or the other - this is clearly a very divisive issue in society, not just among supporters.

"Some fans argue that footballers convicted of offences such as rape should never be allowed to play professionally again as it is such a serious crime.

"Other supporters say that once an individual is released from prison, they should be allowed to pursue their previous career so long as the law of the land allows it.

"Even if Evans has the right to play, some fans say they would still feel uncomfortable at the implications of a convicted rapist representing their club."

Oldham's secondary shirt sponsors CM Solicitors said the decision was solely down to the club.

A statement said: "As secondary shirt sponsors, we are obviously aware of ongoing speculation concerning the possible engagement of Ched Evans by Oldham Athletic.

"Whilst there are many difficult considerations with regards to the matter, we believe that this is solely a matter for the club and we are confident that they will make the right decision in all of the circumstances.

"Whatever the outcome we are and will remain proud sponsors of the club going forward."

Oldham's chief executive Neil Joy issued a statement on Monday under the heading 'Ched Evans' which said the club would ''continue to have conversations with representative bodies such as the PFA and will conduct due diligence with regard to any decision we make on this matter.''

Oldham do stand to lose sponsorship revenue if they sign Evans.

Verlin Rainwater Solutions, which sponsors a stand at Boundary Park, says it would "be out of the door" if Oldham went ahead with the signing.

Another sponsor, Mecca Bingo, tweeted: "We can confirm will be ending our association with @OfficialOAFC if they sign Ched Evans."

Jim McMahon, leader of Oldham Council, urged the club not to sign Evans.

He said: "Oldham Council supports and enjoys a strong partnership relationship with Oldham Athletic, and I've personally worked hard with the club owners to help secure the redevelopment of Boundary Park because of the club's importance to the town.

"My view - if I were in the club's position - is that playing for a professional club puts you in the public eye and that carries important responsibilities. As things stand, I don't believe that Mr Evans would be a suitable role model and ambassador for the town, or for the long-term reputation of the club."

[Part-Timer]

There has been cases, Lee Hughes for an example, Patrick Kluivert another, that footballers have killed people in car accidents whilst full of drugs and alcohol. These players were jailed but when out were allowed to continue their careers. Are we saying that a man that had sex with a drunk woman, that allegedly was well known is somehow a worse "role model" than people that take drugs, get drunk, then drive their cars dangerously and kill totally innocent people.
This bull s*** is one of the reasons our country is in the state it is.