An online petition has been signed by over 61,000 supporters to stop convicted rapist Ched Evans being re-signed by Sheffield United.

Evans is due to be released in October after serving half his five-year sentence, handed to him in April 2012.

The petition urges chairman Kevin McCabe to refuse to reinstate the striker and states that it is a “deep insult to the woman who was raped and to all women like her who have suffered at the hands of a rapist.”

The club have refused to comment on any reports that he will be welcomed back but Alan Smith from the official supporters’ club disagrees with those who feel that he shouldn’t return, saying that he has served his time.

“I’ve been led to believe that is the case,” he said.

“I’ve been told he will be back. I think that for most supporters it’s good he’s coming back because of what he did for us before. I think that he’s served his time.”

It is believed that many fans feel that Evans was wrongly convicted two years ago.

The Welsh international was jailed for five years for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in North Wales.

Evans denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.

He admitted having sex with her but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.