Does Ched Evans realise playing professional football is a privilege, not a right?

After wanting the dust to settle from Oldham’s aborted and ill-advised attempt to sign the convicted rapist Ched Evans before writing this, his legal team has today submitted ‘fresh evidence’ in their latest bid to get his conviction overturned. Which has compelled me to pipe up on this issue, where it seems Evans, his legal team and (unsurprisingly) members of the football community still haven’t grasped the full ramifications of the crime he’s been convicted for and why there is such fierce opposition to him returning to the professional ranks.

Whilst the continued lack of a moral barometer in football allowed both Sheffield United and Oldham to consider re-signing Evans, the reality that supporters or sympathisers of Evans are choosing to ignore is that playing professional is a privilege, and not a right, as they would have you think. A privilege – besides the wages across the country’s top four divisions which I can bet are well above the current average UK annual salary of £26,500 – that comes with a high-profile, public-facing responsibility of being a role model who represents clubs, communities, towns, cities, years of history, countries (Wales in the case of Evans), our national game, sponsors and professional sport as a whole.

Yes, having served (only half of) his sentence, Evans has every right to pursue new employment and move forward with his life without prejudice. The old adage says everyone deserves a second chance. But that employment does not have to be professional football, a job that comes with a profile, lifestyle, responsibility and higher-than-average wages that only a lucky view will ever enjoy. Put another way, if a recognisable or high-profile figure such as an MP, television presenter or company CEO were convicted of the same crime as Evans, would they even be allowed to entertain the thought of returning to that same position or holding public office?

Especially, after seemingly showing no signs of remorse or regret until issuing a carefully worded and belated apology to their victim? (In the wake of public pressure deterring Oldham from signing Evans).

Because that in effect is what football would be condoning if Evans were to return to its paid ranks – unless his conviction is overturned.

Whether Gerrard is jumping ship or has been pushed, Liverpool still can’t afford to lose him

As a Liverpool fan, the surprising news of Steven Gerrard’s (premature) departure was certainly not the New Years gift I was hoping for. For the second half of the season, an error free Simon Mignolet or an injury free Daniel Sturridge was closer to what I had in mind. But after cutting through the crimson waves of emotion, sadness, sentiment and appreciation that have greeted Gerrard’s announcement to seek pastures new, despite advancing years and the inevitable restriction of his abilities, this season – with the possible exception of Raheem Sterling – he is once again proving to be Liverpool’s best player. And Liverpool can ill afford to let him leave and should have done more to keep him.

At the time of writing, his match-winning brace against AFC Wimbledon has put Liverpool into the next round of the FA Cup taking him three goals clear as the club’s top scorer this season. His fourth goal in two games as manager Brendan Rodgers has finally realised the most effective place to deploy his aging skipper is higher up the pitch – as Rafa Benitez first did – where his in still-in-tact match-winning thrusts are best utilised.

This is surely why Brendan Rodgers – as big a Gerrard fan as any of his previous managers at Anfield – wants to measure his game time so that he’s available for the key battles. A strategy, despite Gerrard’s apparent fear of becoming a ‘squad player’, that has seen Anfield’s most celebrated no.8 once again be amongst the team’s top league starters this term. Against the backdrop of Frank Lampard’s continued excellence at Man City after being discarded by Chelsea, it beggars belief that Gerrard is even being allowed to leave, before you even consider how much experience and know how would be lost. Amidst the accolades and eulogies, the PR spin from Gerrard and Liverpool is clouding whether he has jumped, is being pushed or has simply misinterpreted Rodgers wanting to protect his 34 year old legs. But what is clear is that even after 17 years of distinguished service and excellence, this Liverpool side will be a significantly lesser team without Gerrard in it.

We should appreciate Sir Alex choosing honesty as the best policy

Amidst all the hoopla, revelations and bruised egos caused by the publication of Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography, it’s forgotten that the great Scot has bravely chosen honesty as the best policy. The same way he did in a career which saw him confront the truth about diminishing abilities or commitment, leading him to clash with and jettison some of the world’s best players such as Beckham, Van Nistelrooy, Keane, Stam and Ince.

He isn’t lying or slipping us a well-crafted soundbite. He’s just telling us how he it is, how he saw it.

As someone with some experience garnered from school and University teams about the inner workings and dynamics of the sacred ‘dressing room’, the accusations from some quarters that he has betrayed former (and present) colleagues – and in some instances friends – by publishing his memoirs does carry weight. This was a fiercely driven manager who craved and commanded loyalty from his players or else. It was most certainly his way or the M6.

But considering his position as possibly Great Britain’s greatest ever football manager and a worthy candidate in any debate about the best football or sports coaches of all time, I think we should appreciate this rare opportunity to peer into the looking glass and mind of one of British sports most iconic, at times controversial and recognisable figures.