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Sponsors threat to Oldham .. (Monday January 5 2015)

One of Oldham's main sponsors has said it will be "out of the door" if the club sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Craig Verling, a director of Verlin Rainwater Solutions which sponsors a stand at Boundary Park, said the company would terminate its involvement with the Latics if Evans joins up.

Oldham are reported to be holding a board meeting to decide whether to pursue their interest in Evans, although no confirmation was immediately available from the club on Monday morning. Evans was not part of the group which arrived at Boundary Park on Monday morning to make its way down to the club's training ground.

Verling told Press Association Sport: "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."

News of Evans' potential signing attracted a major media presence to Boundary Park on Monday morning.

On Friday Maltese side Hibernians revealed that they had made a contract offer to Evans for the remainder of the season, although the BBC quoted a spokesman for Evans denying the player received such an offer.

However, any move abroad is unlikely to materialise given the UK's tough regime in managing sex offenders.