League One club Oldham Athletic has revealed that the talks regarding the possibility of signing convicted rapist and former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans currently remain ongoing, as the Wales international was set to join the club on a long-term deal and train with them on Monday.
However, more than 30,000 people have signed an online petition urging Oldham not to sign Evans.
Oldham said in a statement that they continue to have conversations with representative bodies such as the PFA and would conduct due diligence with regard to any decision they make on this matter, the BBC reported.
The club's boss Lee Johnson earlier admitted that Oldham was in a very difficult situation after expressing interest in signing the former Sheffield United striker.
However, with thousands of people having signed an online petition against a move for Evans, the club is increasingly worried about a backlash from fans and sponsors.
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Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has written an open letter calling for Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to end his company's sponsorship deal with Oldham.
Mecca Bingo and Verlin Rainwater Solutions have already said that they would end their association with the club if Evans signs.
Craig Verling, director of Verlin Rainwater Solutions, sponsors of Oldham's main stand, said that they have made the club aware as to where they stand, adding that he wouldn't want to support a club who supports a convicted rapist.
However, another Oldham sponsor, Web Applications UK, said that it would continue to support the club irrespective of its decision over Evans. The company's chief executive, Craig Dean, said that he believed it would be unethical to seek to influence the situation in either direction.
