Labour leader Ed Miliband spoke out yesterday against the decision to allow Ched Evans back into football and said that Oldham are right to reconsider signing the convicted rapist. 

On Sunday, reports suggested that the League One outfit were on the verge of signing the former Sheffield United striker but by the end of the day an online petition against the move had over 20,000 signatures.

Speaking in Salford Miliband said: “I think it’s right that Oldham are thinking again. He’s a role model and he’s been convicted of a very serious crime.

“Personally, if I was in their shoes — he hasn’t shown remorse for it — I wouldn’t take him on.” 

Oldham’s leading sponsor Verlin Rainwater Solutions said they do not want to be associated with the club should the rapist sign or train with the League One club, with director Craig Verlin saying that he would not hesitate to remove the company’s name from a stand at Boundary Park.

Verlin said: “The club know our stance and that is if they sign or allow Ched Evans to train we will be out of the door.

“We had a conversation with the club when they considered allowing Ched Evans to train with them six to eight weeks ago and we were led to believe they had listened to the general input.

“But our sources have made it clear he will be training or signing for the club this week and it is not something we wish to be associated with.

“Ched Evans is a convicted rapist and while my personal view is that people should be given a second chance in life it is just not something with which we wish to be associated.

“It is not a business decision, it is a personal one, and the fact is it just does not sit right with me.”

There was a heavy media presence was outside the club’s training facility yesterday morning, waiting for the arrival of manager Lee Johnson or Evans himself.

When Johnson arrived, he was quickly asked if the club had signed the striker, to which he replied: “I understand these are very difficult circumstances. I respect that for everyone. It’s a board decision.

“I don’t want to comment (about the board no longer wanting to sign Evans). Whatever the board decides I will be a part of.”

But Charlie Webster, former Sheffield United patron who stepped down from the club once it emerged Evans might train with them, hopes that Oldham chairman Simon Corney stays away from Evans.

She said: “Isn’t the brand of his football club important? Isn’t the community of his football club important?

“(I) stood up, Jessica Ennis stood up, very many patrons stood up, society stood up and said ‘No’ and they listened and he didn’t get re-signed for Sheffield United. I’m hoping that Oldham will listen as well and Oldham will understand that this is a greater issue than just Ched Evans, it’s about sexual abuse.”

Oldham released a statement saying they would “continue to have conversations” about the possibility of signing Evans.