In a move which surprised no-one, Sheffield United announced yesterday that Ched Evans will begin training with the club later this week.

The club are keen to make clear that they have not entered talks to resign the striker and are just allowing him to regain his fitness. But this move is seen by many as the first step towards him resigning for the club.

The 25-year-old Welsh international was released from jail last month after serving half of a five-year jail term imposed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, north Wales. 

Almost 157,000 people have signed a petition urging Sheffield United not to re-sign Evans and the campaign group Object said on Twitter: “Object stands in solidarity with the woman Ched Evans was convicted of raping and all other rape survivors affected by today’s news.”

But others, including the Professional Footballers’ Association, believe he should be allowed to play again.

“I didn’t know there was a law that said once you come out of prison you still can’t do anything,” Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor said at the start of last month.

“As a trade union we believe in the rule of law. Besides that, he still wants to contribute to society.”

Sheffield United fans have been chanting his name on the terraces for the past few weeks while the club continue to debate whether to offer the striker a new contract, while the board believes Evans has a right to rehabilitation after his punishment and deserves a chance to make a fresh start.

Upon his release from prison, Evans released a video statement continuing to protest his innocence and declared his desire to return to football.

He said: “It is my hope that I will be able to return to football.

“If that is possible then I will do so with humility, having learnt a very painful lesson.

“I would like a second chance.”

End Violence Against Women Coalition spokeswoman Sarah Green spoke out against the news that Evans was training with his former club. 

She said: “We are appalled that top football club Sheffield United are taking the first step to allowing an unrepentant convicted rapist back into their team this week.

“Footballers are critical role models for young men and women in particular, and the player concerned is now set to return to top flight football when he has shown no remorse for his crime.

“Indeed he has used his profile to persistently claim his ‘innocence’ in the media and retraumatise his own and many other victims.”