The issue that divided a nation...

Ched Evans

AFTER an unbelievable day of breaking news at SportsDirect.com Park, the public took to social media to express their views on what would have been the most controversial signing in British football.


IF Ched Evans had partied on coke/booze all night, then killed a dad-of-four, done a runner and got six years in jail — Oldham would have signed him.

PIERS MORGAN



AN absolute shambles, orchestrated by the board. While I deplore the threats they should have been expected.

alan howarth



I CAN’T help but still think about how much our fans have been abused and humiliated this week, then to not sign him.

ASHLEYOMO



AND the angry mob claim another victory.

vegas_al



THEY should have just stayed clear, it was always going to be trouble.

jamboken77

Pathetic. Wrong reason to not sign.

prestigecar_rep



JUST going on record to say after 30 years I will not be supporting OAFC anymore, utter disgrace.

garyw6666



THE 69,000 Oldham Athletic supporters who signed the petition will be happy! #bandwagonners

Carl Murphy



IRRESPECTIVE of Evans’ actions, the public lynch mob approach is disgusting and shameful. Blackmail isn’t on. #getalife

Daft__lad



WHAT an absolute mess. Taking into account everything that has been said, is Evans that good a player?

abrazil1970

I THINK this Ched Evans thing has been blown out of proportion just because he’s a footballer.

Louis Ross



CHED Evans has done his time, let him carry on doing his job now.

DavidRLeaverr



THE PFA have hardly covered themselves in glory over their (non) handling of the Ched Evans situation. Gordon Taylor just made it worse.

Mike White



SHOULD have signed Evans. They signed Hughes and he did well for them. What’s the difference?

Thomas Timson

THE continuous death threats being made to clubs linked with Evans is more poisonous to football than Evans ever would be.

Nigel Naughton



IF Lee Hughes can play football then why can’t Ched Evans?

Matt Shackloc



I THINK football is in a better place tonight.

David Walker (Bishop of Manchester)



THIS man needs to consider an alternative occupation. He is sure to remain a reviled target if he stays in the public eye.

missminx00

ANYONE who says Ched Evans is innocent forgets he was found guilty by a jury and then the court of appeal threw out his appeal twice.

Kate Weir



THANK God the three-ringed circus is over, hope it hasn’t damaged the club too much.

Becky Kerfoot



Well done OAFC for finally seeing sense. Ched Evans’ apology is a step in the right direction. Admitting guilt would go along way!

Quizbritain



WONDER if the people issuing death threats to individuals in the Ched Evans to Oldham situation recognise the irony.

Darren Pickard



NOTHING much more to say about this week’s circus at OAFC apart from I’m glad he’s not signing — but death threats are beyond the pale.

John Mellor



Good on you in seeing sense OAFC.

Dazzler1865

I WAS under the impression that once someone had served a sentence and paid their debts to society they would be offered a chance to be a useful member of society.

It would appear this man is being punished twice. I have no sympathy with rapists or any form of criminal but I believe in justice and I do not think Ched Evans has received this.

I am interested in the beautiful game — but as a 67-year-old lady cannot warrant the title of chauvinist yob or football hooligan.

Celia Marker



WHATEVER the arguments are for and against re-employing Evans, the reaction was only ever going to be as it has turned out over the past week and I find it difficult to comprehend why in the club statement there seems to be some surprise in the turn of events.

This is not being wise after the event — where were the board two months ago when Sheffield United mooted their further involvement and the reaction of sponsors, fans and media? Did they somehow feel Oldham would be different?

As errors of judgement go, this action by the board is serious and in most industries, there would be consequences.

CW (Diggle)



LATICS’ board missed a glorious opportunity to face down the braying masses and show mercy to Ched Evans (mercy cannot be earned). Sadly, economics, emotion and threats have prevailed.

JACK LANCASHIRE



GLAD this is all over, onward with Jabo. Liam Kelly back on the bench for Saturday.

BOB



SIMON Corney has worked tirelessly for Latics for over 10 years. Comments that he should lose his job are plain stupid — he doesn't earn his living from the club, quite the opposite! It's a shame that mob rule may have caused a guy with the club’s best interests at heart to walk away and if he did who could blame him?

SADDLEWORTH LATICS



THE attempted signing of Ched Evans, although central to OAFC, is a much wider issue, hence the responses from people all over the UK. A small number of comments will be from Latics fans, others not, but they still have the right to voice their opinion without others being offensive towards them.

SCOTTIE



FINALLY the saga as finished. Let’s please move on and support our club for what is happening on the pitch not off it. Come on you Blues.

SOUTHERN BLUE



IF there are threats to the club on social media, you will be able to trace them and report to the authorities.

However, now this farce is over I hope the directors take a long hard look at themselves for putting OAFC's long and proud name in the gutter for the last week and that internal action is forthcoming. Appalling week.

ACCRINGTON BLUE



OF all the people giving him a second chance you would have thought David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester, would have been one of them.

LITESPAN



THE horse has bolted, now Ched closes the door. Too little too late, another PR fluff.

MARK WHITELY



A SORRY set of circumstances around a complicated moral issue with rights and wrongs and intemperate opinions and behaviour by some on both sides. I think on balance the right decision has been reached but the consequences for the club do not bode well for its future.

JTMS



GOOD, balanced piece by Matt Chambers. Relieved that Evans hasn't signed.

PETEBOUNDARYBLUE



TWITTER & Mob United 1, Legal Course Of Actions 0.

SWATCH



WHAT a fiasco. Why did they ever start this process?

BOB JOHNSTONE