• Transfer news

Oldham owner says Ched Evans has served his time

Ched Evans was said to be close to signing for Oldham © PA Photos

Enlarge

Oldham owner Simon Corney says convicted rapist Ched Evans "has served his time''.

Corney said the attempt to give the 26-year-old a route back into football had been agreed unanimously by all six members of the Oldham board, despite vociferous opposition and sponsors severing ties with the League One club.

''We believe he has served his time," Corney told the Jewish Chronicle. "It's not straightforward [signing him] and there are some legal issues.

FA urged to block Evans return by Labour

• Labour has asked the FA to block Oldham's attempt to sign Ched Evans, arguing that allowing him to return to the game will undermine efforts to encourage female fans and players.
• Shadow sports minister Clive Efford wrote to FA chairman Greg Dyke to say the decision should not be Oldham's to take.
• He said: ''Ched Evans has been convicted of a serious offence and I would urge any football club to listen to the widespread public opposition to him returning to football.
• In his letter he told Mr Dyke: ''I believe the FA has failed to appreciate the seriousness of the crime for which Ched Evans has been convicted and the consequences that his return to the game will have on people's impressions of the sport and its governing body.
• ''This is not consistent with the good work that the FA has done to promote the game as a sport for women and the reputation it has built in this regard could prove hard to regain."

''There might be a cost implication, but you have to stick to your principles. We weren't surprised by the backlash.''

Club director Barry Owen said: ''There are ongoing negotiations with regard to signing Ched Evans. Unfortunately, quite a lot of due diligence still needs to be completed. We are still in talks with the PFA and other agencies.

"There are things to be done, genuinely, and I don't anticipate that it is going to be done over the next few days. If it is and it is possible to do anything for you, we will make contact with you and tell you what the circumstances are. We are a professional club and we do things in the right way with regard to the media.''

The possibility of a deal for Evans triggered a backlash from sponsors, with one, Verlin Rainwater Solutions, announcing it was cutting ties with the club immediately.

Another Oldham sponsor, ZenOffice, warned it would sever its five-year relationship with the club if the Evans signing went ahead, while major sponsor Sports Direct - owned by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley - has remained silent on the issue.

Chicken restaurant chain Nando's also announced it would be ending its relationship with Oldham.

On Twitter, the company said: "RE Oldham signing: we'd have liked to continue our involvement with fan prizes at matches but feel we can no longer continue our association."

More than 65,000 people have signed an online petition urging Oldham not to sign Evans, while even Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman has said that, as footballers are role models, clubs should ''weigh their decisions very carefully''.

Oldham have previously given a second chance to footballers convicted of criminal offences. In 2007, they signed Lee Hughes after his release following a jail term for causing death by dangerous driving.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd