Evans is welcomed back despite retrial
CHED EVANS will make a sensational return to football after signing a one-year deal with Chesterfield despite facing a retrial over rape allegations in three months.
The former Manchester City and Sheffield United striker, who had his rape conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in April, has agreed a deal believed to be worth less than £2,000 a week and will report for the start of pre-season training with the League One club on July 1.
It had been widely assumed that the 27-year-old, who spent twoand-a-half-years in jail and has not played a game for four years, would have to wait until after his retrial to resume his career.
However, Chesterfield have made their move — with Oldham, Burton Albion and Preston North End also believed to have been bidding for his services. It is understood Chesterfield will review the situation if he is found guilty at the retrial.
The club have taken a public relations gamble following the outcry that followed attempts by clubs to bring Evans back into football, but are satisfied that circumstances have changed.
Evans is free of any conviction after a Court of Appeal hearing quashed the original verdict. The Crown Prosecution Service then pursued a new trial which is scheduled to start on October 4 at Cardiff Crown Court.
Evans said: ‘I am very excited and privileged to be resuming my career at Chesterfield and I hope to make a valuable contribution both on and off the pitch for the football club, the fans and the community.’
Chesterfield made their shock move after a detailed discussion of new evidence with the player and his representatives.
The club are confident that Evans will complete the prolonged fight to clear his name.
Chesterfield boss Danny Wilson (left) was the Sheffield United manager when Evans was convicted in April 2012 and has always supported the player in private. Wilson even made secret prison visits to maintain the relationship they forged at Bramall Lane. Wilson’s assistant manager at Chesterfield, Chris Morgan, was also a team-mate of Evans at Sheffield United. The League One side’s chairman Dave Allen said: ‘We are delighted to have secured the services of an outstanding footballer.
‘Danny Wilson knows Ched very well. Chesterfield have given a great deal of thought to this signing and following the court’s decision, we are in no doubt that Ched Evans should be welcomed back into his profession.’
Evans earned around £20,000 a week at Bramall Lane and was a regular with Wales, winning 13 caps. His deal with Chesterfield will include scoring bonuses.
However, he is believed to have kept himself relatively fit with the help of the Professional Footballers’ Association, who sent coaches to work with him and provided sessions with psychology experts.
Evans will also have a full pre-season regime tailored to his unusual situation.
It is believed Wales are also monitoring developments with a decision pending on re-integrating the player into their senior squad.
Previous moves by clubs to sign Evans fell foul of widespread protests.
Sheffield United invited him back to training in November 2014 but withdrew amid an outcry in which sponsors threatened to boycott the team and celebrity patrons, including Jessica Ennis-Hill, threatened to sever their links with the club.
A similar backlash forced Oldham into retreat when they tried to sign Evans early last year.
League Two Hartlepool also flirted with an attempt to sign Evans but quickly backtracked.
Evans was jailed on April 20, 2012, following a Crown Court trial in Caernarfon.
He was released midway through his five-year sentence on October 17, 2014.
He steadfastly maintained his innocence and the conviction was quashed in April after a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.