Oldham sponsor ends deal over ‘imminent signing’ of Evans

FILE - This is a Nov. 2, 2009 file photo of British soccer player Ched Evans. Evan's is an experienced soccer player and wants to play _ but it’s beginning to look as if public opinion in Britain may prevent forward Ched Evans from ever resuming his professional soccer career. Evans, 26, is out on probation after serving prison time for raping a 19-year-old in his hotel room in 2011. Yet public reaction to his possible return to the nation’s favorite sport is becoming more and more vehement. (AP Photo'Anna Gowthorpe/PA, File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT FILE - This is a Nov. 2, 2009 file photo of British soccer player Ched Evans. Evan's is an experienced soccer player and wants to play _ but it’s beginning to look as if public opinion in Britain may prevent forward Ched Evans from ever resuming his professional soccer career. Evans, 26, is out on probation after serving prison time for raping a 19-year-old in his hotel room in 2011. Yet public reaction to his possible return to the nation’s favorite sport is becoming more and more vehement. (AP Photo'Anna Gowthorpe/PA, File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

By Associated Press January 7, 2015 2 min read

LONDON (AP) – English third-tier club Oldham is prepared to face a growing backlash by going ahead with plans to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.

While Oldham said it was conducting due diligence into hiring Evans, a sponsor severed ties with the northern club citing the “imminent signing.”

Evans, a former Sheffield United and Manchester City striker, was released from jail in October after serving time for raping a 19-year-old woman in his hotel room in 2011. A plan to train with United fell through recently after protests from sponsors and celebrity fans.

“There are ongoing negotiations with regard to signing Ched Evans,” Oldham director Barry Owen said Wednesday at the club’s Boundary Park stadium. “Unfortunately, quite a lot of due diligence still needs to be completed. We are still in talks with the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) and other agencies … and I don’t anticipate that it is going to be done over the next few days.”

Oldham owner Simon Corney was quoted as saying that there was an “80 percent chance” of Evans joining.