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Blades boss defends Evans decision, cites PFA request
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SHEFFIELD United manager Nigel Clough said yesterday that “everybody realized the gravity of the situation” following the club’s decision to let convicted rapist Ched Evans train with the Blades.
United, which plays in England’s third-tier League One, announced on Tuesday that its 25-year-old former striker would train with the squad 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 realizes 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 it was “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.”
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 criticized, particularly by women’s rights groups.
Evans, a Wales international striker, scored 42 goals in 103 games for United, having previously played for Manchester City and Norwich City.
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