Ched Evans - Rational View

Much hot-headed comment on this debate, but a more reasoned analysis might go as follows.

My understanding is that CE had his contract terminated at Sheff Utd. Therefore, it's a similar position to signing a new player - except they know him. They would need to ask the following questions. If any are answered "no", then they scrap the remaining questions, forget Evans and move on.

1. Are we satisfied he can return to his former level of fitness and ability? If so:
2. Would Nigel Clough be happy to select him, given the surrounding baggage? If so:
3. Would he be accepted as a member of the group by his teammates, both in training, and in matches? If so:
4. Can we be satisfied that there is no risk of re-offending which would cause further disruption to the team, were we challenging for promotion? (This would probably need discussion with his probation supervisors, given that there is some suggestion he still does not accept his conviction, which nevertheless currently stands in law). If so:
5. Can we be sure that any adverse reaction from the support/customer base - or from present and potential sponsors - would not affect the club's commercial interests?

If all those questions are answered in the affirmative, only then would the club need to address the far more difficult issue of whether it should take a moral/ethical stance regarding Evans' re-signing. That far more difficult exercise would need to balance the importance of maintaining the dignity and image of the club and the game against the desirability of rehabilitating someone who has been punished and served his sentence.

And let's not forget, were Sheff Utd to decline his services, the manager who arguably knows him best and last worked with him is a certain Mr Wilson!

 

Cryne said he would not authorise signing 100%

 

it would just sum up what kind of club Sheff Utd are

They replace wife beating striker Marlon King so he can go inside for another spell, with Convicted rapist Ched Evens, who will then be trained by Skullcrusher Morgan, all this while the fans deny that any of the mentioned have done anything wrong.

All this while still banging on about West Ham/Tevez/Relegation blah blah blah

Remember all they had to do was draw with Wigan......at home, but it was everyone elses fault they went down

Sheff Utd are a vile, despicable club with fans that suit them.

I kind of hope they do get Ched Evens back and some fans with morals stop going, sponsors stop spending etc and they fall into the abyss

 

You forgot .....are we a club totally without morals.....................oh hang on

 

I think everyone misses the obvious point in regards to Cheddar (this was autoc orrected by my phone but I found it funny so I left it) Evans.

Forget about his crime, and whether you believe in the sentiment of him doing his pumishment, or whether you feel a convicted rapist should be allowed anywhere near a football field.

Them blades who want him back are only saying so because he was good for them 2 1/2 years ago.

How anyone can think Ched Evans could come back anywhere near the player he was before he left is beyond me. He's not kicked a football in so long. He'll be mentally very different and probably not upto the same standard physically anyway. I'd be very surprised if he gets in at any football league club on a contract. He may get the odd trial but nothing more. People question the likes of Dale Jennings and Keith Treacy's fitness, but they'll be streets ahead of Evans.

Don't let this mask the fact that I think he's an utter scumbag who doesn't deserve to be in the public eye. But the reason why I feel neither us nor Sheffield U-Nited (why do they always pronounce United like that?) will sign Cheddar Evans, is purely a footballing one.

 

Sheff Utd are a morally bankrupt club and judging by the phone-ins I have listened to where this subject has been raised so are a sizable minority of their fans - the elbow gestures alone back this up. They will hail his return in a manner that would make normal fans think he’d been away for a couple of years serving his country in the armed forces.

 

I hope United do sign him mainly because they will be slaughtered by just about every club in the UK.

 

Which was the point in my original post!

 

If you have written a rational view with reasoned analysis, we'll be able to work that out for ourselves. We don't need telling. More often than not, if you have to tell someone your argument is rational/reasonable/logical/objective/balanced/lucid/sensible it invariably means that it isn't. If it is, we will see that. I'm not saying what you have written is or isn't what you claim it to be, I'm in no better position to pass judgement than you or anyone else, but it is just an opinion, no more or less valid than than that of everyone else who uses this forum and each of us will decide for ourselves what we think about it. Let's not get in to the position where we start each post by saying, "All you hot heads have had a go on this, now listen to the proper view".

IMHO, and it is very humble, because I'm not certain what should happen, it's very complicated...

Ched Evans is a convicted sex offender. However, I believe in giving people a second chance and I believe in rehabilitation. Ched Evans has served his time and he should be afforded the chance to live a better life and earn a living. Having said that, there are certain career paths that are no longer open to him. Because of his past crimes he could not be a teacher or a police officer or a nurse or a social worker. In short, he would not be allowed to care for or be responsible for vulnerable people.

I believe professional footballer should be added to the list of professions he is excluded from. We live in a society where, rightly or wrongly, professional footballers are idolised. I'm not comfortable with a convicted sex offender being presented as a role model for a generation of children. But it goes deeper than that. Football clubs have dozens of minors on their books. Children are recruited from a very young age. They train at the same place as the pros. Youngsters and professionals come in to contact with one another all the time. I don't know of any other place of employment that would allow a convicted sex offender to work alongside or close to children. Everyone who even goes in to a school is CRB checked (or whatever the system is now, new governments like to give things new names). Even if they are just fitting a new light switch. Football clubs are also in the business of educating children. Ched Evans would fail a CRB check. I don't know how it's possible he could be employed by a football club with a youth policy.

Whether Ched Evans is still any good at football is pretty much irrelevant to me.

 

I think the chances of Ched Evans getting back into football are about the same as Rolf Harris getting back into TV.


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Never thought of that but it's absolutely spot on.

 

End of day he's a convicted rapist, found guilty by a jury. I have a 17 year old daughter who works for the club and don't want that dirty bastar d anywhere near our club.

 

I don't have a strong view either way, Jay. I'm merely saying that Sheffield United would presumably have to approach the question in a more rational manner. I do think that if the argument for re-employing him doesn't stack up on football grounds, then they would not need to engage with the far more difficult moral and ethical question of hiring a convicted sex offender. I wasn't just referring to the debate on here, by the way, and I'm not claiming any superior rationality on my own part!

 

I got that from your post.

I understand that too. It was your turn of phrase that I was questioning (it can lead to unnecessary arguments, "Who you calling hot headed" etc) not a belief that you're superior to the rest of us. I didn't and don't believe you think that.

 

Has he at any point in time admitted that he was wrong and accepted that his actions were criminal?
If he hasn't, than there is no place for him around what is perceived as a family sport.
I agree with Jay's point regarding criminal checks and think we should start an on-line petition to get sport to introduce compulsory CRB checks for all participants.

 

No. He still claims he's innocent and still has a website dedicated to overturning the ruling. I find much of that site extremely unsavoury.

 

He shouldn't have a choice in the matter, much like the girl in question, of whom he forced himself upon and sexually abused, didn't have a choice in the matter either. He should be extricated from the footballing community for good, and should have his scrotum cut off, and grafted to his chin, as should all rapists, to let the public know that they are indeed a rapist.

 

I'm pretty much with Jay on this.

Evans was convicted and served his sentence, do we say that anyone coming out of prison can't make a living? Where does that lead to - more reoffending.
Of course he will be excluded from certain jobs but I don't see football to be one of those although I see Jay's rational.

It's up to a club as to whether having him on their books fits in with a wider public image for the club - so I don't think he should be banned from returning to football but I wouldn't want him at Oakwell.