MUSICIAN PAUL HEATON has resigned as patron of Sheffield United after the club allowed convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with them following a request from the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Heaton, the former lead singer with The Beautiful South, said that while he believed Evans had a right to “rebuild his career”, he needs to do so away from United.

In a statement on Facebook, Heaton said:

“It is with great regret that I announce my resignation as patron of Sheffield United Community Foundation.

“I firmly believe that Ched Evans has the right to rebuild his career in football but rebuilding a career should not involve walking straight out of prison and into the shirt of the club he so badly let down.

“I believe he needs to move away and move on, and the club itself needs to lift its reputation out of the gutter.”

Heaton becomes the fourth Patron to resign after Charlie Webster, Dave Berry and Lindsay Graham stepped down.

Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in 2011, having been found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.

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