Well done Oldham Althletic

[towny44]

The BBC website comments that Oldham have offered Ched Evans a contract, which I think is very brave of them and I hope he rewards them with many goals.
I have been very concerned with the press and social media witch hunt surrounding his possible return to football, because I feel that he has served his sentence and should now be allowed to re-start his chosen career.
Many people have taken issue with him for not offering a public apology, clearly he believes he was wrongly charged and convicted, and in similar circumstances I think I might feel the same.
Best of luck to both him and Oldham.

[Manoverboard]

Oldham have a history of employing jailbirds ... well done them I say

Ched Evans may, or indeed may not, have been guilty but of what ?

Bonking a bimbo certainly but rape ... hardly, given the circumstances, imo.

In either event he has now served his sentence or at least part of the five years but there was NO mention of ' life ' for this is what it would surely be if the media and precious amongst us continue to conspire to prevent him from earning a living.

He'll have learnt a valuable lesson and should now be allowed to move on and concentrate on playing his football.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Rehabilitation of offenders, anyone?

[gravy1955]

Why the sympathy for a convicted rapist like Ched Evans, for that is what he is. Your sympathy should be for the poor girl who is the real victim in this affair, who has been forced to change her name and move home several times due to being harassed by Evans's so called supporters.
I have no sympathy for Evans.His entire behaviour was sleazy and predatory and he was found guilty of rape by a jury who heard all the facts and then denied an appeal by a Lord Chief justice who reviewed the case. He hasn't served his time ,he's only served half of it and is out of licence. He should have got a lot longer. This whole case shows what a moral cesspit the professional sport of football is in this country- commit any crime you want but as long as you can score goals it doesn't matter.

[GillD46]

Why the sympathy for a convicted rapist like Ched Evans, for that is what he is. Your sympathy should be for the poor girl who is the real victim in this affair, who has been forced to change her name and move home several times due to being harassed by Evans's so called supporters.
I have no sympathy for Evans.His entire behaviour was sleazy and predatory and he was found guilty of rape by a jury who heard all the facts and then denied an appeal by a Lord Chief justice who reviewed the case. He hasn't served his time ,he's only served half of it and is out of licence. He should have got a lot longer. This whole case shows what a moral cesspit the professional sport of football is in this country- commit any crime you want but as long as you can score goals it doesn't matter.

I completely agree.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Rehabilitation of offenders, anyone?

I can only repeat my previous post....

[Silver_Shiney]

I'm all for the rehabilitation of offenders, Notso, but I'm also for appropriate punishment. Two and a half years inside for such a serious offence is not appropriate. Even the full five years is, IMO, too short. Given that he denies the offence, I think, makes it worse. Sorry, mate, but I'm with Gravy and Gill on this one.

[gouty-man]

So...police officers convicted of lying or theft etc, doctors convicted of sexually assaulting patients (or even killing them) and teachers who sexually assault children in their charge should all be given their jobs back after they've served their sentence? I don't think so...

[Boris+]

I think I'm with Towny on this one - at the end of the day, it could be a shining example of someone who has 'done the time' and now is working hard to get back into earning a living and paying tax.

The fact that he has the support of his girlfriend (fiancée) and her family speaks volumes.

I hope he does get back into playing football professionally (not that I follow the sport), and that he can put this unfortunate period of time behind him.

It's a great example and I hope it all works out well.

Em

[Boris+]

Hi gouty-man,

The difference is this - (as far as I know) - police officers, teachers, medical staff etc who commit the type of offences you have listed would still be actually involved with the general public if they returned to the jobs undertaken by them prior to any judgement and/or punishment; whereas a football player doesn't actually get involved with any cash or valuables, and only 'mixes' as such with other adult male footballers in undertaking the duties prescribed by the job.

Ched Evans isn't (as far as I know) going to have to handle valuables, accounts or cash, and neither will he have to actually mix with women or children is a work context.

Come on, his family and his fiancée etc are behind him - give the bloke a chance.

Em

[gravy1955]

I hope he does get back into playing football professionally (not that I follow the sport), and that he can put this unfortunate period of time behind him.

It's a great example and I hope it all works out well.

Do you also hope that the young girl who was raped can also put "this unfortunate period of time behind her "? She's had to change her name and been hounded out of her home and forced to live elsewhere. No big fat pay cheque for her every week. She is the victim. Let's dismiss this idea once and for all that Ched Evans is somehow a victim in all this...he isn't He is the criminal, the convicted rapist; not her !
Where is his remorse, regret or contrition in all this ?? There is none because he still thinks he didn't do anything wrong.... He probably thinks he was only "bonking a bimbo" so it doesn't matter. What a a fine upstanding young man he is .A great example for all young men on how to behave !!!
As for rehabilitation; you can't begin rehabilitation until you accept that you require it-he doesn't

Let's have more sympathy and support for the young woman victim, and no I don't think it's"Well done Oldham Athletic

[Boris+]

Well this topic is one which is going to polarise opinions.

You have yours, I have mine - and mine isn't going to change.

Em

[Capt Black]

It will be interesting to see whether the gate numbers at Oldham go down if he is signed up, and whether any players use their transfer opportunities.

Due to length of Evans sentence he will be placed on the sex offenders register for LIFE. Would other clubs be allowed to stipulate that they do not want registered sex offenders playing at their grounds?

[Andrea S]

A very emotive controversial subject .

I do know that if my daughter had gone to a hotel bedroom with someone she didn't know I would have been mortified.

Nothing has been mentioned about a violent attack on this person so it is down to 2 people who know exactly what happened.

The comment about professionals abusing their position with vulnerable people is a different thing altogether. They will always be a risk to the public.

For years women have told their amorous other half they are tired , have a headache etc but have been ignored. Certainly not rape but insensitive to someone's feelings.

I see the deal with Oldham is now off. 65000 have signed a petition. I didn't realise they had that number of supporters

[Manoverboard]

The daughter in this instance was as high as a kite and went off willingly to the local Premier Inn(?) with some bloke whose mate just happened to be Ched Evans and the pair of them helped themselves to what was readily available .... no need for violence.

She stated ( it was reported ) that she didn't remember Mr Evans having sex with her ... he volunteered that information and but for that statement he may have been acquitted as opposed to getting a lenient sentence.

Rape used to carry 7 years but in his case it was much reduced, perhaps there is an element of doubt after all and if so it would be entirely wrong to continue with the vendetta against him.

Remorse by the way is intended for the guilty even though many only pretend to show it.

+++

Reports posted this morning indicate that the deal is NOT off and that his future father-in-law plus several other business associates have underwritten any losses that Oldham may incur through lost sponsors.

An 80% likelihood of signing is the latest position ... allegedly