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I'm glad they're signing him. It puts an end to the media circus about a bloody League 1 footballer. They'll no doubt try and make his life hell for a few weeks, try and play the law and decide for themselves that Evans shouldn't be working, despite the fact he's served his sentence.

Maybe they'll even hound some of the clubs sponsors to pull out or maybe even ask every single League club whether or not they'd sign him, just to continue their campaign to make sure he never works in his profession again. Oh wait, they already did that...

I'll look on with great interest at his appeal.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I'm glad they're signing him. It puts an end to the media circus about a bloody League 1 footballer. They'll no doubt try and make his life hell for a few weeks, try and play the law and decide for themselves that Evans shouldn't be working, despite the fact he's served his sentence.

Maybe they'll even hound some of the clubs sponsors to pull out or maybe even ask every single League club whether or not they'd sign him, just to continue their campaign to make sure he never works in his profession again. Oh wait, they already did that...

I'll look on with great interest at his appeal.

Wonder what the petition organiser "Jean Hatchet" will make of the latest developments?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900150/Rapist-footballer-Ched-Evans-handed-two-half-year-contract-Oldham-Athletic-tomorrow-despite-opposition-sponsors-campaigners.html

Wonder if now she'll just bury the hatchet or more likely she'll only be satisfied once Ched Evans himself has been buried?

One thing that puzzles me about the whole affair is how Clayton McDonald's version of what went on that night in the Travelodge gained him a "not guilty" verdict but they jury seemingly disregarded this when he said the woman also agreed to have sex with Evans.

He states in this article "I know Ched and I know he is innocent. The woman agreed to consensual sex"

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/clayton-mcdonald-midland-footballer-speaks-6788373

I'm not legally minded but if he was there and he swore on oath that she gave consent, how didn't this carry any weight when it came to the verdict?

Quoted from pontoonlew

I'm glad they're signing him. It puts an end to the media circus about a bloody League 1 footballer. They'll no doubt try and make his life hell for a few weeks, try and play the law and decide for themselves that Evans shouldn't be working, despite the fact he's served his sentence.

Maybe they'll even hound some of the clubs sponsors to pull out or maybe even ask every single League club whether or not they'd sign him, just to continue their campaign to make sure he never works in his profession again. Oh wait, they already did that...

I'll look on with great interest at his appeal.

As I understand it, his request for an appeal was turned down. It is however being investigated by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is a right open to anyone and means nothing from what I understand.

I think this is an interesting article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30697264.

I wonder what will happen if Ched Evans' appeal is upheld at some future point ??

Could he go for compensation against loss of earnings from his conviction date, or if not, from his release date?

Quoted from Belfast Town

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As I understand it, his request for an appeal was turned down. It is however being investigated by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is a right open to anyone and means nothing from what I understand.

I think this is an interesting article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30697264.

The problem with that article is the fact there is only one answer. No matter what you say about him not 'admitting guilt' you simply would not admit guilt to something you don't believe you did.

If I was in his shoes, no media pressure or promise of an easier life would make me apologise if I thought I had been wrongly convicted. Fighting to get your name cleared is more important than making everybody happy with words he clearly wouldn't mean.

It's a very difficult case. Although he's served his sentence, because it was a 5 year one with parole he's on the sex offenders register for life, and that will stymie a lot of the things he should be involved with as a professional footballer because he won't be allowed near anyone under 16 - so work in the schools etc is a definite no-no.

The web page that is paid for by the father of his girlfriend is being investigated for criminal activity in naming the girl concerned who has had to change her identity 5 times in the last 2 years to stay ahead of a baying mob, nine of whom are now facing criminal charges.

You will only ever hear two sides to this story, but the facts in the cold light of day is that Evans is a convicted rapist, who has showed no remorse or contrition, so in the eyes of the law will be at high risk level to offend again. The criminal cases review, I think, will stick to the letter of the law and is unlikely to overturn the sentence. If it does, and he is a free man it would be very difficult indeed to say to other clubs that they should not pursue his signature as that would then be constraint of trade.

I fully understand both sides of the case, and I fully understand that everybody should have the right to have gainful employment upon serving their sentence. The very obvious sticking point here is the lack of any contrition on his behalf, which as I said previously puts him on very thin ice.

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

I'm pleased a club has had the guts to sign him. Our court system convicted him and gave him a punishment they considered befitting to that crime. The mass mob mentality to punish beyond that has been pretty unpleasant.

I agree entirely. We're drifting towards a mob rule society. The fact that he's a footballer is irrelevant, he deserves a chance the same as anyone else

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

I'm pleased a club has had the guts to sign him. Our court system convicted him and gave him a punishment they considered befitting to that crime. The mass mob mentality to punish beyond that has been pretty unpleasant.

I agree, however I also think it is for the best that Sheff United did not re-sign him. Although he has served his custodial time and has every right to work and rehabilitation (of course he is still on license), I think his former employer re-signing him would have been a bit off. After all, he was convicted whilst representing their club and I whilst I strongly support his right to return to work as everyone deserves the chance to be continue their lives after having served their time, it would have seemed right if his former club had accepted him with open arms IMO. That he had to seek another employer seems reasonable to me, and I think many professions would act in a similar fashion to this, regardless of media pressure.