Friday 14 November 2014 09:15, UK
Olympic Heptathlon Champion Jessica Ennis-Hill will ask Sheffield United to remove her name from a stand at Bramall Lane if Ched Evans is offered a contract with the club.
Evans, a convicted rapist, is to train with United after they agreed to a request from the Professional Footballers' Association – although there has been no move by the Blades to re-sign their former striker at this time.
The 25-year-old Wales international was released from jail last month after serving half of a five-year jail term imposed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.
The Bramall Lane stand was re-named after Ennis-Hill, a Blades fan, following her Olympic success in 2012.
In a statement, Ennis-Hill said: “I believe being a role model to young people is a huge honour and those in positions of influence in communities should respect the role they play in young people’s lives and set a good example.
“If Evans was to be re-signed by the club, it would completely contradict these beliefs".
Wales boss Chris Coleman says he is yet to discuss whether Evans will be considered for selection by his country, but expects to hold talks with the FAW.
“I know it’s somewhere in the future. The decision will have to be made,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“There’s not been the time to sit down and talk about it with the FAW. All we’ve done is concentrate on the job in hand and that’s picking points up, picking squads, and trying to work on things that are here and now.
“Sometime in the future, when that time is appropriate we’ll deal with it, but it’s not something I’ve talked about with them.
“It’s going to come, I know that and they know that, but that’s not now.”
