On the Sunderland message board that he signed for us yesterday, but has not been announced, did ironside sign get announced on the Saturday but was eligible to play? Of course this might not be true but wondering if they are holding back till just before kick off to try and keep the positive vibe. Ronnie was doing a lot of work for Sheffield radio station.

Him signing will certainly put a downer on takeover / new manager feel good vibes

It is a difficult one to contemplate, and will be roundly criticized. The fact is at least one club in the pro ranks will sign him at some stage

He's probably better than what we have - get him signed if possible. He could sign for one of our rivals and put us down......

All the best rumours come from a sunderland forum


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A really tough one this. He could save us from relegation with his goals. But do we want to be associated with a convicted rapist (Rightly or wrongly)

Either way I predict a 10 pager for this thread

I really hope this is just a rumour. Thanks to Jeff Stelling loads of people have a soft spot for Pools, whereas if this is true we'll get no end of bad will. If we've got money to spend on wages now there will be other players who can do the job instead of him.

I would take him in a heartbeat, what`s done is done, served his sentence, move on people!

If he'd shown remorse for what he did I'd say sign him up, but the fact he hasn't makes it a tough one. Fuck it, I'll put my head on the block. If he has signed, I'll be perfectly fine with it, permitted he keeps us up.

But I don't believe the rumour, he almost signed for a club in Spain last week didn't he?

I don't believe the rumour but wouldn't have him here....EVER!!!!

Interesting one, i also think he did his time etc but as MJ points out, it's been a good week and Ched Evans is simply damaged goods. It would be suicidal for any club to take him on IMO.

Odd one. Will split opinion!! He has served his time even if he has denied event. Killers and rapists and other criminals still had a career after prison. Newton Hughes king and many more.
Mmmmmmmm....

Whether people think he's served his time, or he's a good footballer is irrelevant.

He is bad publicity. The new owners are keen to get the fans back onside and a signing like this in their first week could damage their reputation before they've had a chance to build one.

Can't see it happening IMO.

Problem is though they are both far to good for this division, Williams probably sees himself playing at a higher level, whereas Evans has nowhere to go.

Catch 22 really for Pools if it is true

He,s shown no remorse because he,s adamant he didn't,t rape her. He,s still trying to clear his name and if he does how many clubs would want him then. It is a catch 22 situation but I would give him a chance.

I agree. It's a very delicate subject with him regarding his case, but purely footballing reasons, he scores goals for fun and I would take him

I will be disgusted if he signs for us. I'd not respect him at all.

Not a good move. Wouldn't feel safe if I had someone I loved at the club.

Let's hope this is not true

Well if we do get relegated, at least we can say we did it the morally correct way.
I mean, who'd want a twenty plus goals a season striker in our position eh?

I think we have been a "nice" club for some time. We are bottom of the league and need to do whatever we can to stay up. Im not going to say those who don't want him are wrong as I realise it's an awkward one. Personally I would take him.

I,d take him from behind for 25 goals lmao

I'm not convinced one little bit that he's guilty. The conviction is very questionable.



It'll be along shortly, get your tickets while theres still a couple left.

I hope its not true but from a pure footballing point of view he'd keep us in the League on his own as he's an outstanding player.

Pretty much sums it up for me.

Whether we do or we don't id still question his ability. He's probably out of shape, and coming back into football from something like that, well, it'll be like Lee Hughes all over again. Remember when he stormed off because of the abuse from the town end?

The amount of abuse he'll get (guilty or not) will no doubt affect him and it might have a negative affect anyway. I'd still take a chance on him, he's appealing the decision at the minute i think? So it's still up in the air.

If you can fake sincerity, you can fake pretty much anything.

Concurring.

He's a rapist, simple as that for me. He shouldn't be walking around, let alone playing football again, doesn't matter how good he is, some things are more important than that.

I'm willing to bet more clubs have recovered from negative publicity than have recovered from relegation to the conference.
As for the moral side, neither I nor anyone else on this board has papal infallibility.

I agree, from what I've read I'm not convinced he's guilty either. He is also trying to clear his name so obviously feels he has done nothing wrong so will feel no need to say sorry. Personally I'd have him here and give him a chance. If his he's found guilty or not guilty after appeal then the owners would have to act accordingly

Neither am I - there was a lot of negative press about footballers and their out of work antics at the time which might have had an impact on the jury. The lass was drunk and can't remember anything.

The evidence seems a very shaky but are there things that the public don't know?

Would you get the VAT element of any refund??

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/playe ... r_id=47379

get him signed! it's what we need GOALS! he has done the time..............move on !!!!

Let's hope he isn't signing
regardless of people's opinion on his guilt, (and I recall a spirited debate here on Amanda Knox where the courts decision was certainly not treated as final) the fact that people will have strong differing opinions on the subject and argue with one another will be counter productive to the main goal of staying up.
My personal opinion is you have to respect the courts verdict and it will do Hartlepool more harm than good fielding a currently convicted rapist

Agreed...

He has served the time, like Mr I said to many discrepancies in the trail.

get him signed.

I really hope he doesn't sign. Football has few morals left. The guy is scum. I couldn't bring myself to cheer him on. Rapists murderers et al can play for anyone else. The crime is vile.

er, like bob newton ?

're like Bob Newton. ..I like to think 35 years on we can be wiser. I wonder what the female employees and female supporters have to say on the discussion.

As far as moral high ground goes, this must be somewhere up in the Himalayas.
Nobody seems to see the paradox in trusting the law to get it right then saying "yeah but fuck that, I want to add an extra judgement of my own."

If he plays for is and does well I'll be happy. That's all that matters, I'll leave the faux outrage to those less able to accept the concept of British justice which punishes and rehabilitates offenders who can then get on with their lives as decent citizens.

(I won't even mention how questionable his actual conviction is, sanctioned by a jury or not)

did Plymouth get a lot of grief when they re-signed their keeper McCormack, he was in jail for killing two young boys when driving after drinking

Get him signed! Strike ratio is ridiculous. Served his time. People should be allowed to work again. It just so happens he is a really good footballer. Why should he walk away from it?

I wouldnt.

Ronnie has confirmed its a possibility.

Where?

Loughlin on twitter

Good.

I see no reason giving a bloke a chance after he has served his sentence is a bad thing, he was a decent player when he played against us and if he gets back up to speed then he'll score a bucketload of goals in league two.

Would it make any difference to those in opposition if his appeal was successful?

If Pools sign Evans they 've totally lost my support . No way I'm watching Pools if they sign a convicted rapist. Pools will have lost the support of a season ticket holder since Booby Moncur was in charge & my two lads as well. I'd rather be a conference side than stoop to the level of signing the likes of Evans. Call it the moral high ground if you want but have we really stooped that low. I hope not.

Bang on sure this is worse.