An English soccer club has apparently abandoned an attempt to sign a convicted rapist amid an atmosphere of “intimidation, abuse and harassment.”
According to the leader of Oldham council, Oldham Athletic won’t be handing a deal to Ched Evans, who was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old girl.
Only on Wednesday the owner of the Lancashire club, Simon Corney, had said there was 80% chance Evans would be hired but a furious reaction from the public seems to have ended its interest.
Condemnation from politicians and the local Police and Crime Commissioner greeted the news the fourth tier club was interested, with two sponsors saying they’d sever ties with Oldham should Evans sign.
As an online petition against Evans joining neared 70,000 signatures, Oldham council leader Jim McMahon released a statement Thursday saying he understood the deal was off.
“The whole episode has divided the town and public opinion and there are no winners in all this — not least of all the reputation of our club and town,” he said.
“In recent days we’ve seen an horrendous ‘trial by social media’ with intimidation, abuse and harassment on a scale that has cast a terrible shadow.
“I am urging people on all sides of this debate to please now take stock, show some restraint and calm.
“I’ve always believed in rehabilitation but felt that both club and player should have allowed Mr Evans’ appeal to run its course before agreeing a contract.
“As it stands Mr Evans has been found guilty in a court of law and has not yet completed his sentence. However, I take no pleasure in this outcome.”
With Oldham declining to comment, the 26-year-old Evans, who insists he is innocent and is appealing against his conviction, looks further away from getting back on the playing field than ever after this latest snub.
Evans began his career with current English Premier League champion Manchester City, before joining Sheffield United in 2009.
Upon his release from prison, the club’s plan to allow Evans to train with them provoked a public backlash, with 160,000 people signing a petition against the move.
A proposed deal with Hartlepool was also dropped following a similar reaction, the north east town’s Labour MP calling Evans a “pariah.”
Evans released a statement Thursday, through the Professional Footballers Association, in which he apologized for the effect the case has had on his victim’s life.
“Upon legal advice I was told not to discuss the events in question,” he said. “This silence has been misinterpreted as arrogance and I would like to state that this could not be further from the truth.
“I do remain limited at present by what I can say due to the ongoing referral to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and whilst I continue to maintain my innocence I wish to make it clear that I wholeheartedly apologise for the effects that night in Rhyl has had on many people, not least the woman concerned.
“Finally it has been claimed that those using social media in an abusive and vindictive way towards this woman are supporters of mine. I wish to make it clear that these people are not my supporters and I condemn their actions entirely and will continue to do so.”
More to follow….