HARTLEPOOL MANAGER RONNIE Moore has admitted that they are exploring the possibility of signing Ched Evans.

Convicted rapist Evans, a former Welsh international striker, was released from prison after a two-and-a-half year stint in October and insisted he was innocent. He also revealed that he intended to resurrect his football career.

The 25-year-old trained with former club Sheffield United in November but the Blades ended the spell after pressure from patrons and sponsors. Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill also opposed the move, insisting that she wanted her name removed from the stand at Bramall Lane if he was offered a contract.

However, Moore, who took over at League Two outfit Hartlepool earlier this week, revealed after today’s 1-1 draw with Oxford that he is open to a deal.

“It’s a possibility,” Sky Sports report the Pools boss saying.

“If it could happen, I would want it to happen. He is a proven scorer — he’s served his time and the boy wants to play football.

If there is a chance he might come here, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t.

“He has made a mistake and maybe he hasn’t apologised in the right way – and I know he has an appeal case pending – but if he gets on the park, he would go a long way to getting us out of trouble.”

A Nottingham Forest player is rocking the Abel Xavier look to raise money for cystic fibrosis

Suarez finally gets off the mark in La Liga but brilliant Messi steals the show