One of League One side Oldham’s main sponsors said that "it will terminate its involvement with the club" should it sign convicted rapist Ched Evans, according to Neil Gardner of the LONDON TIMES. Verlin Rainwater Solutions, which sponsors the main stand at Boundary Park, "has threatened to end its association with the club if it employs Evans." Verlin Dir Craig Verling said, "The club know our stance and that is if they sign or allow Ched Evans to train we will be out of the door. ... Our sources have made it clear he will be training or signing for the club this week and it is not something we wish to be associated with." The "saga of Evans’ return to football has continued since his release sparking an angry debate over his future." The Professional Footballers Association said that, as Evans has served his sentence, "he deserves the chance to resume his career following his release from prison," but fans and women’s groups say that "he should not return to such a high-profile role within the game" (LONDON TIMES, 1/5). In London, Ian Herbert wrote Oldham is considering pulling out of the move for Evans "after having been taken aback at the backlash which has been far greater than when they hired a player who caused death by dangerous driving." The club has canceled plans to hold a press conference announcing the signing of the convicted rapist, originally planned for Monday, and is "thought to be 50:50 over whether the footballing value they see in signing the 26-year-old is worth the opprobrium it will cause." Oldham Manager Lee Johnson "developed grave reservations about the decision to sign Evans." It "is thought that he initially went along with the idea but expressed concerns after he was made aware just how toxic the move would be" (INDEPENDENT, 1/5).
SECOND OPINION: Also in London, Jamie Jackson wrote Oldham said that it "will consult" its stakeholders before making a decision on Evans. The club issued a statement that said, "Whilst acknowledging the considerable media attention, we continue to have conversations with representative bodies such as the PFA and will conduct due diligence with regard to any decision we make on this matter" (GUARDIAN, 1/5). In a separate piece, Jackson wrote Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has become the latest public figure to ask Oldham not to sign Evans because the striker has shown "no remorse." Lloyd’s intervention "followed a similar demand from Ed Miliband, while Mecca Bingo and Verlin Rainwater Solutions, two of Oldham’s sponsors, stated they would withdraw if the 26-year-old joined the League One club." In a statement issued on the commissioner’s website, Lloyd said, “All offenders have the right to rebuild their lives and make amends after they have served their sentence but Ched Evans’ lack of remorse and failure to acknowledge his offence means it is simply inappropriate for him to be on a Greater Manchester football pitch week in and week out presenting himself as some kind of role model, especially to young people.” In a tweet, Mecca Bingo said, “We can confirm will be ending our association with @OfficialOAFC if they sign Ched Evans" (GUARDIAN, 1/5). The PA reported Johnson said it would be a "board decision." His comments "were the first to be made public by any club employee since news of the potential signing emerged on Sunday." Johnson: "I understand these are very difficult circumstances. I respect that for everyone. It's a board decision." Asked if the board had decided against signing Evans now, Johnson added, "I don't want to comment. Whatever the board decides I will be a part of." A spokesperson for Mecca Bingo said, "If the club were to sign Ched Evans, then Mecca Bingo would review the partnership." However, another Oldham sponsor, Web Applications UK, said that "it will continue to support the club irrespective of its decision over Evans." Mecca Bingo CEO Craig Dean said he believed it would be "unethical" to seek to influence the situation in either direction (PA, 1/5).
