MOORE WANTS TO BRING CHED BACK
NEW Hartlepool United manager Ronnie Moore wants to make convicted rapist Ched Evans his first signing at the Football League’s bottom club.
After drawing 1-1 with Oxford in his opening game in charge yesterday, Moore was asked about speculation linking him with a move for the 25-year-old striker, who was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for the rape of a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in 2011.
He had been due to restart training with former club Sheffield United last month, but public outcry forced the League One Blades to withdraw their offer.
With relegation to NonLeague staring them in the face, Hartlepool could see it as a reputation risk worth taking.
“If it could happen for me, I would want it to happen,” said Moore. “There is no doubt about that. He is a proven goalscorer.
“He has served his time for me and the boy wants to play football. If there is a chance that he might come here, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t.
“I know what will happen now; everybody will be groaning and you see what happened at Sheffield United.’
“You keep pushing the lad away. He made a mistake and maybe he hasn’t made the apology in the right way and there is a case pending on the appeal.
“On the football matters, if he gets on the park he will go a long way to getting us out of trouble, that’s for sure. “It is a possibility, I would leave it at that for now.”
Moore himself is returning to the game for the first time since being sacked by Tranmere April after he admitted breaking Football Association betting rules. The 61-year-old wants to start with a clean slate.
“The last thing you want is to be remembered for something stupid with the FA,” Moore said.“It was a crazy thing to do, and a crazy decision by Tranmere to let me go. I’m back to prove a point.”
He says he is relishing the opportunity, adding:“I can take pressure all day long – pressure is for wimps.”