Oldham Athletic manager and former Bristol City player Lee Johnson set to add convicted rapist Ched Evans to his squad. please log in to view this image Former Sheffield United striker and convicted rapist Ched Evans could be on his way to Oldham Athletic. Oldham Athletic manager and former Bristol City midfielder Lee Johnson is exploring the possibility of signing convicted rapist Ched Evans, according to reports. Last month Athletic denied they were set to offer the 26-year-old a contract, or let him train with them, but it is believed they have now had a change of heart and the striker will train with them tomorrow morning Welshman Evans has been without a club since he left prison last October. The striker served half of a five-year term for raping a woman in a hotel in May 2011. Johnson meanwhile, who played 174 times for the Robins from 2006 to 2012, has been manager at Athletic since March 2013. At present, his team sit 14th in Sky Bet League One with a home game at Boundary Park against Steve Cotterill's City scheduled for April. If Oldham do sign Evans, if it would not be the first time they have signed a striker who had served a prison sentence. In 2007 they signed Forest Green Rovers player Lee Hughes after he had served half of a six-year prison term for causing death by dangerous driving. Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said earlier today: "Ched Evans is a footballer. He wants to return to society as a footballer, so he does need an employer to take him on." Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-City-player-Lee-Johnson-talks-sign/story-25803429-detail/story.html#ixzz3NtbnOLOm
Why connect Bristol City FC with the employment of this disgusting man, it's another clubs decision and it stinks, what depth will this rag sink to too sell it's papers, it really deserves to go out of business.. Get stuffed Bristol Post you are a stain on honest news reporting. It's GOT nothing to do with Bristol City FC..
All they are ever interested in is trying to sell papers Wiz - the connection to us is tenuous at best
Oldham and Junior in particular, who are even considering employing Ched Evans are a stain on the rest of football
Here is the latest....if you can believe the BBC Oldham Athletic are considering pulling out of a controversial move for striker Ched Evans, the BBC has learned. The convicted rapist, 26, was set to join on a long-term deal and train with the League One club on Monday. But 20,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Latics not to sign Evans, raising the prospect of a dramatic U-turn by shocked officials. The club will hold a board meeting on Monday morning and an announcement will be made by Tuesday afternoon. Wales international Evans is now unlikely to train with the club on Monday, as initially planned.
Aside from what you think about him playing, I can't believe any club in the UK would sign him at the moment - surely the circus it would create would be detrimental to any team
To be fair it is big news and a former Bristol City player is the guy possibly employing his so there is a little link between us and the story but I see your point wiz. Soon an actual newspaper will be history and if you want to read the stuff you'll have to do it on line or via app which is actually a great thing. Think of all the paper/trees will save! (I know that last sentence was complete off topic but hey ho!)
Given he's got a fair amount of talent I think he'd be a good signing for a relegation-stricken team, as they have nothing to lose in a way. Would always be a poor decision for a team doing well though as the possibility of unsettling the team's momentum is far too high.
According to SKY who asked all League 1 and League 2 teams on whether they would sign him, City were one of 22 clubs that declined to comment, 14 said no and 11 clubs didn't respond. Not one club said yes
I'm sure a lot of chairmen and managers would want Evans for his once feared goalscoring feats but with the eyes of the world on Oldham at the moment it will be a very foolish club to actually sign him right now
