A month ago: ‘Directors will not be offering him a contract’

TV am broadcasts live at Oldham Athletic today

SPECULATION over the arrival of convicted rapist Ched Evans at SportsDirect.Com Park marks a dramatic U-turn following the club’s denial last month.

Rumours circulated following Latics 3-0 derby day win over local rivals Rochdale on November 29 - but the club moved to quash them.

A statement on December 1, said: “The board will not be extending an invitation for Ched Evans to train with Oldham Athletic nor will we be offering him a contract. The club will not be making any further comment on this subject.”

Fans were quick to react when talk of Evans training with Latics surfaced and the reaction — as it is this time — was mixed. Some insisted Evans, who served half of a five–year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape, had faced his punishment and deserved a second chance. Others said they wouldn’t watch their team with Evans in the squad.

When Sheffield United, Evans former club, allowed him to train with them following his release from prison, more than 160,000 fans signed a petition against the move, sponsors pulled out, several well-known celebrities stood down as patrons and Olympic champion Jessica Ennis–Hill said she would want her name removed from the stand named after her at Bramall Lane if Evans were to be signed again.

In the end, the Blades did a U-turn.