CAN we take a second to stop applauding Oldham’s decision to rethink the signing of Ched Evans when they shouldn’t have been thinking about it in the first place.

They thought about letting him train six weeks ago but saw the fans’ fury and decided it wasn’t the best decision.

But it seems that the board don’t really care about what supporters think because they still want to bring the convicted rapist to the club.

The fact that they tried to quietly announce the signing on Monday before the public realised what was happening show that they knew it wouldn’t be a popular move.

The board’s refrain that it “didn’t realise it would get such negative publicity” is daft and everyone knows it — you don’t try to sneak someone through the back door if you know it’s the right move.

And the only thing stopping them isn’t the fans voicing their concern. Or the 45,000 people — and constantly rising — who have signed the online petition. It’s the fear of losing money from sponsors.

On Sunday, when it was revealed that Oldham was the club, there was no comment from the League One outfit. It knew fans were totally against the deal but they were pushing ahead with the move and press conference.

Come Monday morning and Mecca Bingo and Verlin Rainwater Solutions threaten to pull their sponsorship deals and all of a sudden a board meeting is called and it releases a statement that talks will continue and they will do their “due diligence” on Evans.

What due diligence? He is a convicted rapist who has shown no remorse for his crime and hasn’t even finished serving his sentence.

And that is what people who defend him need to realise. Evans is not a free man — he has served half of a five-year sentence and is now out on licence having completed the custodial section.

The Ministry of Justice blocked a move to Malta because he is not allowed to go abroad.

If he breaches his parole he will be back in prison to serve the rest of his time.

So can people stop acting like this is a media witch-hunt and that football owes Evans the chance to be rehabilitated on the field.

Football owes him nothing. He lost the privilege to earn a very good wage and be the hero to thousands of fans when he raped a woman.

I’ve had a few people tell me that football has given players a second chance in the past so it should do the same for Evans.

Just because football has foolishly allowed previous criminals back into the game it doesn’t mean that an unrepentant should just walk back into the game like nothing happened.

I even had one person say to me, and I quote: “She (the victim) should feel great comfort that he went to jail but it’s not Evans’s fault if she feels his punishment wasn’t long enough.

“Considering some rapists never get found or convicted I’m sure she’s happier knowing he’s actually been caught and punished.”

Comfort? What is comforting about having your identity revealed five times and being constantly harassed by the public to the point of having to move home?

What is comforting about not seeing your family for over a year and having to spend Christmas working just so people leave you alone?

What is comforting seeing the criminal go back to his normal life and placing the blame on your shoulders, so he becomes the victim and you become the criminal?

Nothing. There is no comfort for her. Her life has been ruined like she was the person who committed the crime. And people think Evans is the one who has been treated unfairly?

It is sickening. This whole situation is disgusting and the fact that scum on social media are saying that they would “get Ched Evans a bird” is further proof that this man should not be allowed anywhere near a football pitch.

He may not be using the term but he’s not condemning the phrase or trying to stop people from using it. His main concern is trying to get back into football.

People have a right to work after spending time in prison. But I will continue to fight and argue that convicted rapists, Evans or any other player who commits such a vile crime, should never be allowed to play the sport again.