Sunday 21 December 2014 15:07, UK
Hartlepool have announced they will not sign convicted rapist Ched Evans, after manager Ronnie Moore expressed some interest in the 25-year-old.
Moore, who took charge of the League Two club last week, had said on Saturday that signing Evans was a "possibilty" and that the player had "served his time".
However, in a strong statement on the club's website, Hartlepool said they did not intend to sign Evans and "for the avoidance of doubt, will not be doing so, irrespective of his obvious ability as a football player".
"We are upset at the manner in which this story has escalated and wish to make it clear that the player will not be joining the club," chairman Peter Harris said.
“All we are concentrating on is league survival and do not want anything to upset that goal.
“The club regrets any upset that may have been caused but we feel we must deal with this matter quickly and put the story to bed once and for all."
In their statement, the club described Moore's comments as answers to a hypothetical question based only on Evans' ability as a footballer.
The statement said the club wished to draw a line under the issue immediately, and said they understood the concerns of supporters and the general public and regretted any misconception portrayed.
Evans was released 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.
The former Sheffield United and Wales striker already had an offer to train at the Blades retracted last month amid strong public opposition.
Hartlepool, who are currently bottom of League Two, had been urged to "think again" about signing Evans by Labour MP Iain Wright after news of Moore's interest emerged and he welcomed the club's statement on Sunday.
Wright, who is MP for Hartlepool and a season-ticket holder, told Sky Sports News HQ the club had saved their reputation by rejecting Evans, and pointed out the player was still technically serving "part of his sentence".
“The message it (would have) sent out, that somehow it is acceptable to treat women in this way, is completely unacceptable, and I’m really pleased that the new owners have nipped this in the bud, drawn a line under it, and said Ched Evans will not be playing for Hartlepool United," Wright said.
"He’s been convicted of rape, his appeal wasn’t upheld, and actually he’s only served half his time in prison. Technically, he’s still actually (serving) part of that sentence; he’s on licence at the moment, so he’s not a completely free man.
"It would be intolerable (that) somebody who has been convicted of such a crime would be allowed to play football for a Football League team.
"The argument that, 'the lad has served his time, let him earn a living', I don’t think stands, given the nature of the crime and given the profession Ched Evans is in.
"This has been a momentous week for Hartlepool United - we’ve got new owners, we’re still bottom of the league but we felt that a new chapter was being written - and we actually can now move on and make sure that the number one priority is league survival."
Moore saw his side clinch a 1-1 draw with Oxford United in his first game in charge on Saturday.