Convicted rapist Ched Evans "has been in fresh talks" with League One side Oldham, according to Martin Ziegler of the PA. Club bosses insisted in December that "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 CEO 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." Oldham was "not available for comment" (PA, 1/4). The BBC's Dan Roan reported it is believed that Oldham has now "had a change of heart." An online petition against Oldham signing Evans was set up on Sunday "and garnered more than 5,000 signatures within 90 minutes -- a rate of roughly one signature per second." Taylor said, "We've had a number of steps forward and a number of steps back. I'm not going to count my chickens. If a club are looking to sign him they need to be 100 percent committed" (BBC, 1/4). In London, Tony Needham wrote 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." 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" (GUARDIAN, 1/4).
MALTA OFFER: Also in London, Caroline Mortimer wrote Evans "has been offered another chance to play football" in Malta. The former Wales int'l and Sheffield United striker "has been offered a six-month contract with the Maltese team Hibernians." It was unclear "whether he would be able to accept the contract in Malta because of the terms of his early release." The Maltese tourist board "was a sponsor of Sheffield United’s playing gear while Evans played for the club" (LONDON TIMES, 1/3). In London, Mark Townsend wrote "attempts by Evans to resurrect his football career were quashed" after the British government stepped in to prevent the convicted rapist plying his trade overseas. As speculation mounted that he was preparing to rehabilitate his career on the Mediterranean island, "the MoJ issued a statement clarifying that, as a convicted sex offender on licence, Evans was barred from working abroad." Earlier, women’s groups on Malta "pledged to hold a meeting this week to discuss the arrival of Evans" (GUARDIAN, 1/3). REUTERS' Scicluna & Milliken wrote Malta PM Joseph Muscat urged the club not to sign Evans, saying that "it could hurt Malta's image." Muscat tweeted that "footballers were role models and that Hibernians' decision would affect Malta's image as well as that of the club." Muscat: "I hope the management realize this before the final decision" (REUTERS, 1/3).
