From BBC Sport Oldham's club sponsors are being told by senior sources at the club that a deal with Ched Evans has been agreed, and that they should prepare for an announcement confirming his signing on Thursday or Friday, the BBC has learnt. One of the club's main sponsors, Verlin Rainwater Solutions, have ended their association with the club due to the "imminent signing" of the convicted rapist.
It was inevitable that a club would sign him. Now it gives me a reason to dislike LJ just as I dislike his father. Although perhaps LJ will resign as he has been quoted as saying that it is a board decision which could infer that he does not agree with it.
I've had my say on this and appear to be in the minority by and large but I cannot for the life of me see how this crime, "If Oldham do go ahead with reported plans to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans, it will not be the first time they have signed an offender.In 2007 they signed former West Bromwich striker Lee Hughes after he served half of a six-year sentence for causing the death of a father-of-four by dangerous driving. Hughes' trial at Coventry Crown Court heard how he crashed his £100,000 Mercedes into Douglas Graham's car after swerving onto the wrong side of the road. Mr Douglas' wife Maureen and the driver Albert Frisby were also severely injured in the smash on 23 November 2003. Hughes fled the scene on foot, which prosecutors claimed was to avoid a breath test, but he eventually handed himself into police 36 hours later. He admitted failing to stop and failing to report an accident but denied dangerous driving, however he was found guilty by a jury. After signing with Oldham, Hughes went on to play for Blackpool, Notts Country and Port Vale and is currently at Forest Green Rovers" Is any worse than the one Ched Evans has been convicted of? To my mind the above is way worse but the bandwagon and angry mob posse with their firelit torches appear to have been unleashed.
Banksy - Spot on and you can add that Plymouth keeper who's drunk driving killed 2 children. 'rape is rape' and killing children is ............. As for Junior - he'll resign before he's sacked. Oldham have scored only 1 goal in the last 5 matches - losing all 5, including 4-0 at home to Yeovil, 7-0 at MK Dons and also losing at home to bottom side Crewe. He'll jump - Perfect opportunity for Junior.
This will have been a board decision not LJ. Only they would sign someone when they know they are going to lose sponsors. Wouldn't let Little Lee make a decision that big. To be honest I'm glad he's signing for someone. Just so we don't have to keep hearing his name every day. Give it a month and nobody will be talking about him
Personally I think they are mad - the baggage / fall-out from this makes it simply not worth it - he's hardly Lionel Messi
Rape is worse than murder? This wasn't a masked raider breaking in to someones house or grabbing a female off the street and threatening them with a knife or personal harm. this girl couldn't even remember it happening.?? Your reply interests me Red Robin? do you genuinely believe that Ched Evans crime is worse than lee hughes or the Plymouth keeper where lives were lost?
If you want me to put it in order- 1-killing someone. 2-rape. Both are completly and utterly wrong,both circumstances should not allow that individual to earn the vast rewards of football,nor should they be put in the public eye as examples of profesional footballers. Crazy crazy world we live in.
It's not murder they was charged with though it was manslaughter, their own stupidity caused the people to loss their life. I'm not condoning what they did, if it was one of my family they killed then I would be done for murder, as I would be going with intent. Also they both admitted their guilt, it dose'nt change anything as the outcome is the same. But to admit it shows that you've got remorse. I don't and didn't really want to get into the Ched Evans debate as we are only privy to certain bits of the case. But a jury and appeal decided that his actions was guilty. And he won't admit this due to a further appeal, so until the appeals finally decided he might then say ok I'm guilty. The law on this drunken women thing is a very grey area, as its ok for women to claim it after the event. But why not for a man? I've been totally hammered and woken up in some women's bed regretting ever being there so basically how is it I gave consent? Sober I would of never gone there etc. And I would not be surprised if I'm not the only one on here that has had sex with a girl drunk that you would never dream of sleeping sober. But is it worse than manslaughter, if he actually INTENDED to take advantage of the girl? All said and done, I would not like it one bit if either of those three played for us.
Its just the seeming hypocrisy of it all that gets me ROD, I have read many times "what if it were your daughter" Well I do have an 18 year old daughter who quite frankly I would be appalled if she got so drunk she couldn't even remember going back to have consensual one night sex with a stranger and then not even remember that she had also had sex with Ched Evans until he admitted it! Everyones a victim these days and no one takes any personal responsibility for their own actions.
According to an article I read on the owner of Oldham (who lost his 2 other finanical backers), this is simply seen as a potential money making opportunity. Oldham have no money and fairly small fan base. The owner wants to get Evans fit and see him return to goalscoring form and then sees a huge profit coming his way if a Championship or Prem team come in for him. However you have to measure this against loss of credibility and some of the clubs sponsors withdrawing their funding.
This case will always be controversial and until the review has taken place I will not opine. What I do know however is that the lady concerned has never complained of being raped and that as I understand it the DPP brought the case. So was this a controversial prosecution made to create case law?. Also, I know that locally i.e. where they both live the sympathy lies firmly with Evans. As ever we only believe what we read in the press. Having said that as a society our penal system is based on rehabilitation and it could be that the rape is rape argument brigade will end up not achieving their desired goal.
I think that's the right thing to do Shame it took the threat to rape a family member of the Oldham staff to get them to change their minds
I see he"s at last issued a statement, through the pfa, finally apologising to the girl and condemming those morons who threatened her on "social media", he now claims his silence was due to legal advice. I hope he"s doing this for the right reasons and not in some hope that, well I"ve said sorry perhaps the"ll all go away now, perhaps he might be well adviced to forget this season and direct himself at maybe, voluntary work for 6 months, then see how things look at the start of next season
Makes you wonder The worst thing is that I'm far from convinced he's even guilty. Modern society gets its priorities all arse about face sometimes...
He maintains his innocence in the statement but apologises for the result of his actions and the people who have hounded her. He's not admitting he did it!
There are too many girls going out and getting recklessly drunk, some underage, I don't know how parents let them go out and get like that. Unfortunately there are too many people who would and do take advantage of that. However you're responsible for your actions, if you get drunk and end up killing someone then it's your fault so youre to blame if you get drunk and end up in someone else's bed.
