Kennedys has confirmed that it will continue sponsoring Sheffield United's stand despite the club allowing a convicted rapist to train with it.

Ched Evans was convicted of rape in 2012 after he interrupted a teammate having sex with a woman and joined in. She was deemed too drunk to consent and Evans was sentenced to five years. His contract with the club was terminated, but he is now training with the team in what is being seen as his first step towards rejoining the club. While he's paid his dues under the rule of law, 157,000 have signed a petition asking the club not to employ him. One club patron, TV presenter Charlie Webster, said, "He's not just going into a job, he's bandied as a role model, we cheer him on as a role model and he's influencing the next generation of young men who are currently still making their decisions on how to treat women and what sexual mutual consent is". She has quit her involvement with the club in protest.

But not Kennedys. Kennedys sponsors a stand at Bramall Lane stadium called "Kennedy's Kop". When RollOnFriday asked the firm if it would end its sponsorship deal now that Ched was back on the pitch, it said "our understanding is that the club hasn’t yet made any long-term decision about Mr Evans. So, at this stage, it is a matter for the club".

An own goal yesterday

And it seems nothing will change if Evans returns permanently. In a statement given to RollOnFriday Kennedys said it "does not sponsor ‘the Club’ or it’s ‘players’ - our sponsorship agreement is as official stand sponsors”. As such, "we do not have plans to alter our sponsorship arrangement at this point in time". It is not known how Kennedys staff feel about its hairsplitting stance.