Clough defends Evans decision

12 November 2014 18:01

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough said Wednesday that "everybody realised the gravity of the situation" following the club's decision to let convicted rapist Ched Evans train with the Blades.

United, who play in England's third-tier League One, announced on Tuesday that their 25-year-old former striker would train with them following a request from the Professional Footballers' Association to allow Evans the opportunity to rebuild his fitness.

"I think everything has been deliberated properly, nobody has rushed into any decisions at the club," Clough told Sky Sports News.

"Everybody realises the gravity of the situation and seriousness of everything and that's why it has taken so long to even get to this stage.

"It has been prompted by the PFA and that's as far as it goes now.

"We deliberated as a club for some weeks and came to this decision. According to the law of the land he is entitled an opportunity to resume his career."

United's statement said they were "not prepared at this time" to make a decision on whether to re-sign Evans as a player.

Clough, asked if letting Evans train with the Yorkshire club would nevertheless lead to a full-time contract with the Bramall Lane side, said: "That's a long way from being true.

"The statement said that he is purely down to train with us and we will take it from there."

- Clegg concern -

Evans, who has continued to maintain his innocence, was released last month having served half of his five-year sentence after being jailed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.

Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but the suggestion he might resume his football career has also been widely criticised, particularly by women's rights groups.

Meanwhile Britain's Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg -- who is a MP for a Sheffield constituency -- urged United to think "long and hard" before letting Evans play for the Blades again.

"I think the owners need to think really long and hard about the fact that when you take a footballer on, you are not taking just a footballer these days, you are also taking on a role model," Clegg said while broadcasting on London's LBC Radio station.

"You are taking on a role model, particularly for a lot of young boys who look up to their heroes on a football pitch in a team like that, and he has committed a very serious crime," he added.

"It is for the football club to decide, but I really do think that footballers these days, they are major public figures who have a public responsibility to set an example for other people.

"I'm sure that will weigh heavily in the decisions made by the owners of Sheffield United."

Evans, a Wales international striker, scored 42 goals in 103 games for Sheffield United, having previously played for Manchester City and Norwich.

Source: AFP