Convicted rapist Ched Evans may still play for Oldham Athletic after all

League One club Oldham Athletic owners have overruled the club's manager Lee Johnson's grave reservations over signing convicted rapist and former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans after four weeks of discussions.

Johnson, who is expected to defend publicly a decision to sign the convicted rapist, is reportedly thought to have developed concerns about hiring striker Evans, who would play for as little as 400 pounds-a-week plus appearance fees.

However, Oldham directors Simon Corney, the businessman who owns the club, and Barry Owen, a former senior police officer, are understood to have had the final say, The Independent reported.

Both Corney and Owen believe that Evans should be entitled to play, taking a practical commercial view that hiring and rehabilitating a player recently valued at 3 million pounds is worth the initial unpleasant publicity.

Owen was instrumental in the club signing Lee Hughes in 2007, after he had served half of a six-year prison term for causing death by dangerous driving.

It is being speculated that Oldham have had reassurances that their biggest sponsor, the Sports Direct retail giant run by Newcastle United, would not withdraw their 1 million pounds backing if the club does move ahead and sign Evans.

An online petition against Oldham signing Evans was set up on Sunday and received more than 5,000 signatures within 90 minutes.