LONDON - English third-tier club Oldham is prepared to face a growing backlash by going ahead with plans to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.While Oldham said it was conducting due diligence into hiring Evans, a sponsor severed ties with the northern club citing the imminent signing.Evans, a former Sheffield United and Manchester City striker, was released from jail in October after serving time for raping a 19-year-old woman in his hotel room in 2011. A plan to train with United fell through recently after protests from sponsors and celebrity fans.There are ongoing negotiations with regard to signing Ched Evans, Oldham director Barry Owen said Wednesday at the clubs Boundary Park stadium. Unfortunately, quite a lot of due diligence still needs to be completed. We are still in talks with the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) and other agencies ... and I dont anticipate that it is going to be done over the next few days.Oldham owner Simon Corney was quoted as saying that there was an 80 per cent chance of Evans joining.There might be a cost implication, but you have to stick to your principles, Corney told the website of the Jewish Chronicle newspaper. We werent surprised by the backlash.When Oldhams interest in the 26-year-old Evans emerged earlier this week, the club became the target of opposition from politicians and fans but has resisted external pressure to continue talks.Sponsor Verlin Rainwater Solutions, which makes gutters, announced that it did not want to be associated with a team featuring Evans in the squad.After receiving the news regarding the imminent signing of Ched Evans it is with great regret that Verlin Rainwater Solutions will no longer be associated with Oldham Athletic, company director Craig Verling said.We feel that Mr. Evans should be able to lead a life without further punishment after serving his sentence, although our feelings remain the same that this should not be within the public domain where his previous behaviour may influence the next generation.Another Oldham sponsor, stationery supplies firm ZenOffice, warned it would end its deal if Evans joined.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris Wholesale Fake Air Max Plus . Hes coming back to fulfil them. One of Europes top coaches, Blatt was hired Friday by the Cavaliers, who ended a sweeping, 39-day search with an out-of-the-box selection they hope changes their fortunes. Wholesale Fake Vans . Armstrong was given the rank of "Chevalier" -- or Knight -- in the "Legion dHonneur" in 2005, the last year of his seven consecutive Tour de France victories. https://www.fakeshoes.net/wholesale-fake-air-max-97-f629.html . The Toronto Maple Leafs were holding a news conference, so they got curious. It didnt take long for them to find out via social media that coach Randy Carlyle was coming back — with a two-year extension — and assistants Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish were being let go. Wholesake Fake NMD .J. - Pete Carroll is in support of the NFL looking further into whether medicinal marijuana could beneficial for players. Fake Yeezy . The traditional pre-Masters event was halted early due to inclement weather. Harrington, who tied for first in 2003 and won in 2004, became the first three-time champion of the event.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan said hes both disgusted and outraged by the racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, released a statement Sunday addressing the matter. He said that as an owner, "Im completely disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views." As a former player, Jordan says "Im completely outraged." An audio recording obtained by TMZ alleges that Sterling made racist comments to a girlfriend, including urging her not to bring black friends to Clippers games. The NBA and the Clippers are investigating, including whether the male voice on the recording is in facct Sterlings.dddddddddddd Jordan said he is confident that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will investigate the matter fully and "take appropriate action quickly." "There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed," Jordan said. "I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level." Jordans Bobcats trail the Miami Heat 3-0 in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series that resumes in Charlotte on Monday night. ' ' '