Ched Evans To Join Oldham Athletic - Reports

League One club Oldham Athletic is set to agree a deal to sign rapist footballer Ched Evans, Sky News understands.

The 26-year-old striker was released from prison in October after serving half of a five year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in 2011.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), which has always taken the stance that Evans, who still protests his innocence, deserved the chance to resume his career following his release from prison, is due to hold a press conference on Monday concerning the player.

There has been no official confirmation or denial from the club, which last month insisted they would not be offering Evans a contract or an opportunity to train. But it is understood further discussions have taken place since then.

The club has previously signed a former convict as a player.

Lee Hughes, who served three years in prison for causing the death by dangerous driving of father-of-four Douglas Graham in Meriden, near Coventry, in 2004, also signed for Oldham after his release in 2007.

Oldham's reported interest in Evans sparked lively debate on unofficial fans forums, with some supporters saying they would not attend another game at the club's Burnden Park home if Evans signed.

On one fans' forum a member named as Underdog wrote: "Please god no ... we are a family club ... He is a convicted sex offender until the courts decide otherwise ... can you imagine the grief we would get as fans ...This is a nightmare, if he signs I will not be returning back to BP until he has gone and would have to consider my role in playershare and trust oldham."

And Bristolatic wrote: "I wasn't 100% comfortable with the Lee Hughes signing, but he did at least show some contrition ... Ched Evans, on the other hand, has shown no remorse whatsoever. Instead, he has chosen to simply declare that he is innocent.

"My conscience would not allow me to be at a game in which he was playing."

However another poster, Hands On, wrote: "We all have to make our own minds up. I have made up mine and believe he should be given the chance to pursue his chosen profession again. I will continue to support my club."

Reaction on Twitter was similarly divided, with some Oldham fans saying they would stop attending games and others backing the club, saying that everyone deserves a second chance.

Sky News Correspondent Becky Johnson said that while the reaction from fans was important, it was the sponsors' "we really need to watch".

"It will be very interesting to see what sponsors here in Oldham will make of this, if as we understand it is the case that Ched Evans will be coming here, because of course in the end in football it does all come down to money," she said.

Evans had an offer to train with his former club Sheffield United withdrawn in November following a backlash from Blades supporters, sponsors and patrons opposed to his return. Some 160,000 people signed a petition against it.

Other clubs including Tranmere and Hartlepool also rejected the opportunity to sign him and a recently touted move abroad to Maltese club Hibernians floundered due to rules on convicted sex offenders and their probation regime.

Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.

The player denied the offence, saying the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.

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