Financial backer offered to pay convicted rapist's wages if Grimsby Town wanted to sign him
"WOULD we sign convicted rapist Ched Evans? No."
Grimsby Town director John Fenty has revealed to the Telegraph that a financial backer offered to pay Evans' wages if Town did want to bring the controversial striker to Blundell Park.
But he, manager Paul Hurst and board members this week unanimously agreed that the move would be too high risk, he said.
Evans, 26, was released from prison last October having served half of a five-year sentence for the rape of a 19-year-old woman in a hotel.
He was close to sealing a move to Oldham Athletic – but the club today pulled out of the deal due to threats to staff and their families, and sponsor pressure.
Mr Fenty said the club was approached by a financial backer who asked if the Mariners would be prepared to sign Evans. "They kindly offered to underpin the cost of signing him if we were interested.
He explained: "We had a meeting to discuss this involving myself, manager Paul Hurst and the board. Some would say that justice has been done and he has served his time. "There is also the fact that he is still appealing against the conviction. "I understand those views, but the potential fall-out from signing Ched Evans would have been too great. "We were unanimous in our decision. "The long-term impact on our fan base – and possibly on our sponsors – could have been massive. "The big concern was the damage to the football club and its reputation. "The offer we had from the sponsor would have helped to cover his wages and associated costs until the end of the season. "But it was a move simply too high risk to consider."