Sky TV'S Charlie Webster resigns from Sheffield United over Ched Evans' return Webster disagrees with decision to allow Ched Evans to return to the club Women's rights campaigner: 'Club hasn't acknowledged extremity of crime' Evans will not be paid by Sheffield United while he trains with the club Striker has been criticised over his lack of remorse and denies rape Webster revealed in January she was sexually assaulted when she was 15 By Ashley Clements for MailOnline and Gerard Brand for MailOnline Sky TV presenter Charlie Webster has resigned from her role as a Sheffield United patron in protest at the club bringing convicted rapist Ched Evans back to training. The League One side confirmed yesterday that they have agreed to allow Evans to return to the club despite 150,000 people signing a petition against the move. Evans, 25, has always protested his innocence and has since stressed his desire to start playing football again, but Webster doesn't believe the club are making the right decision. The women's rights campaigner said: 'At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime...nobody is making a decision (at the club) and I suppose I feel I need to make a decision as a patron of Sheffield United. Ched Evans will start training with his former club this week, despite opposition from some fans Charlie Webster has decided to resign from her role as patron of Sheffield United My decision which I have informed the club a little bit earlier is to resign as a patron of Sheffield United. Evans was released from prison in October after completing half of a five-year jail sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman. Speaking on BBC Newsnight about her decision, Webster added: 'I don't believe a convicted rapist as in Ched Evans should go back to a club I am a patron of. He is not just going into a job...he is bandied as a role model. I have spoken quite a few times now and I am trying to give victims of sexual abuse a voice in this day and age in 2014 there still is not an education on mutual consent. Why have the club chosen to listen to the PFA and not the thousands and thousands of people who say they do not want him back? Sheffield United haven't made a statement for four months and today, in fact, I had a conversation with the Chairman. It was a positive conversation and I walked away from that...I read the statement and I looked at what the club were saying, and the stance that they've taken and the stance that the PFA have taken. At no point has anyone made a decision and Sheffield United still haven't made a decision. They've succumbed to the PFA, the PFA have asked if they trained with him, the FA have said it's a "dilemma" and at no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime." Over 155,000 people now have signed a petition against Ched Evans going back to the club. Nobody's making a decision and I suppose I feel that I need to make a decision as patron of Sheffield United. My decision, which I informed the club earlier on, is that I resign as patron of Sheffield United and Sheffield United Community Foundation, which is all about inspiring the next generation through sport. Webster appeared on BBC Newsnight on Tuesday night, and spoke strongly about her stance My decision is based on the fact that no convicted rapist, as in Ched Evans, should go back to the club that I am patron of, and go back into the community and represent the community. He's not just going into a job, he's bandied as a role model and 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. I currently haven't had a response from the club but as I said I did have a conversation [with the Chairman] which was very positive and friendly earlier on. They said to me that they still haven't made a decision but they have made a decision to let him come and train back at the club. I hope [that what I say now will have an impact]. I've spoken quite a few times now and now I'm here speaking to you. I'm trying to, I suppose, give victims of sexual abuse a voice because I think in this day and age, in 2014, we're a rich society - rich in education as well - and still there isn't an education on mutual consent. [On the fact that Ched Evans has served his time] "The PFA are the player's union so of course [Gordon Taylor] is going to say that - his interest is only for the players and to make sure the players get the best out of their situation. It's the same union that has recently been sued for sexism because it didn't allow a woman into a dinner, so I don't know what you would take from the PFA. Why have the club chosen to listen to the PFA and not the tens of thousands of fans that say they don't want Ched Evans back at the club... Webster said: 'At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime' on Newsnight The point you've just made is that he scores goals, so why would the club bring him back to train? To me that's for one of two reasons: the club are bringing him back to get him match fit to play, or they're bringing him back to train him up to be sold in the January transfer window which is not a moral decision or a community decision, which clubs say they are all about. They are the heart of community. You cannot have it both ways. [On the crime being sexual] "There's a lot [on the Wikipedia list of sports star's crimes] so maybe the FA, instead of saying "This is a dilemma" which is what the Chairman Greg Dyke said, he should maybe do his job which is impose rules. Maybe the FA should make rules so that players can be told what they can and can't do. In my mind they can't go and rape and then go back into their job to influence the next generation. To me, it is personal, because I can comment on sexual abuse because I have been sexually abused, but also because I'm the patron of this club and of the Foundation, and I was brought up in the community of Sheffield, and I'm worried about my community. A lot of the fans have spoken up but the fans who are supporting Ched Evans maybe need to look at their own families and imagine what it would be like if it was their daughter or their wife or their mother, because one in five women in this country are sexually abused, which is a statistic that shouldn't exist in 2014. The reason why is because nobody speaks about it and the reason why nobody speaks about it is because they get abused. Me speaking about it, I've been abused; the lady that started the petition, she's been abused...I got told I should have a slap around my face to get myself back in order. Evans scored 42 goals in 103 games for the Blades, having previously played for Man City and Norwich City Evans is to marry his fiancee Natasha Massey after proposing shortly after he was released from prison, where he served half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old girl Webster, best known for her work on Sky Sports, revealed in January that she was sexually assaulted by her athletics coach when she was 15. She is yet to receive a response from the club regarding her resignation, saying: 'I currently have not had a response...They said to me they still haven't made a decision (on allowing Evans to play again).' Sheffield United risked the fierce backlash on Tuesday night with the confirmation, along with a statement saying that there can be 'no place for mob justice' regarding the situation. The statement read: "After due consideration, the Board has decided to respond favourably to the PFA's request and to allow Mr Evans to train at the club's facilities. While some have speculated about whether the club will or should invite Mr Evans to return to SUFC as a registered footballer, the club is not prepared at this time to decide that issue. The PFA are behind the move that will see Evans take a step closer to resuming his professional career following his release from prison. Massey, pictured on ITV's This Morning, said she put thoughts of Evans's infidelity 'to one side' The statement went on to say that "the club condemns rape and violence of any kind against women in the strongest possible terms" and "does not question Mr Evans" conviction for rape" but "there can be no place for mob justice." Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales. The Welsh striker denied rape, saying the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court. The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse. It is thought Evans, pictured with Massey before he was convicted, did not want to propose from jail It is understood that the 25-year-old former Wales striker, who earned £20,000 a week at Bramall Lane before his conviction in April 2012, will not be paid by Sheffield United. Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge. An appeal against Evans's conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012. His case is due to be looked at by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. After his release, Evans released a video on his website protesting his innocence and vowing to clear his name. He scored 42 goals in 103 games for the Blades, having previously played for Manchester City and Norwich City. Webster had warned in October she would quit her role at the club if they re-signed Evans. And she was immediately branded a 'hypocrite' by Evans' sister Kylie, who retweeted a message the presenter posted in September saying she wanted to get a photograph with former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson. Evans' sister, who also maintains the footballer's innocence, pointed to a tweet which Miss Webster posted on September 10. It reads: 'Just bumped into Mike Tyson in the hotel lobby as I was randomly talking about him! I chickened out on asking for a photo...damn. Evans' sister tweeted: 'This is the same Charlie Webster that's just threatened to leave United. Hypocrite. Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 after an incident the previous year and subsequently served three years of a six-year sentence. Responding to the tweet, Webster said: 'I am not going to stand her and say she said this, I said that. 'I am not going to comment on her but I have apologised and find it very sad that's taken away from what I said this morning. 'I did not think about that tweet at the time and I'm not proud of that tweet but the response has been another example of berating someone for speaking out against rape. But I am not thinking about Mike Tyson. I am thinking about Ched Evans. The reason people don't stand up to rape is because they get abused on Twitter for it. The victim has had to take on a new identity and had a hate campaign against her. Nobody should have to go through that. I would ask the community to get behind the victim. On September 10, the presenter tweeted her regret at not getting a photo of convicted rapist Mike Tyson In response to The PFA's request, the SUFC Board of Directors has deliberated the matter internally, taking into consideration: Evans warms up at the Millennium Stadium ahead of Wales' Euro 2012 qualifier against England in 2011 The views of Staff, the Football League, and The PFA; The views of SUFC supporters and the general public as expressed in numerous letters and emails, social media comments, editorials, supporter websites, public petitions and media coverage; and The public statements of: The PFA, declaring that professional footballers should be treated as equals before the law, including in circumstances where they seek to be rehabilitated and to return to work in their chosen trade following periods of incarceration; and Mr Evans, acknowledging the destructive nature of the acts, which led to his conviction, and seeking a chance to be rehabilitated by returning to work in his chosen trade after having completed the custodial portion of his sentence. In the course of its deliberations, the Board also spoke with Mr Evans and his representatives. This decision, which takes effect immediately, is informed by the following four considerations: 1) The Club condemns rape and violence of any kind against women in the strongest possible terms. More specifically, the Club considers rape, the crime for which Mr Evans was convicted, to be a heinous crime worthy of serious punishment as provided under law. The Club has been assured by Mr Evans that he shares these value judgements. 2) The Club does not question Mr Evans' conviction for rape. The Club is advised that: 1) The punishment imposed on Mr Evans in connection with his conviction was consistent with applicable law; 2) Mr Evans has completed the custodial portion of his sentence as provided under law, having demonstrated good behaviour while in custody; and 3) Mr Evans has been paroled on licence conditions, which do not restrict him from returning to service in professional football. The Club recognises that the same justice system that tried, convicted and punished Mr Evans under law also provides for his rehabilitation under law. The Club agrees with the recent statements of The PFA, to the effect that professional footballers should be treated as equals before the law, including in circumstances where they seek to return to work following periods of incarceration. The Club rejects the notion that society should seek to impose extrajudicial or post-term penalties on anyone. In a nation of laws, served by an elected parliament and duly constituted courts of law, there can be no place for 'mob justice'. The Club believes that the only penalties following from a conviction on any charge should be those set forth in law and deemed appropriate by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Club understands that Mr Evans is pursuing legal recourse to clear his name before the Criminal Cases Review Commission and, if permitted, before the appellate courts. The Club recognises Mr Evans' right to appeal and to seek to clear his name as provided under law. The Club, however, takes no view on the merits of, and has no role in, any such appeal. The Club leaves all such matters exclusively to Mr Evans, his legal advisors and the justice system. The Club's decision to allow Mr Evans to train at the Club's facilities is based on the facts as they stand today and is in no way dependent on the perceived merits or outcome of the appeal. Apart from this statement, the Club will not be making any further comments about this matter for the foreseeable future.