Sheffield United: '˜I'd have walked if Evans wasn't my call' says Chris Wilder
And, to underline his message, the Sheffield United manager revealed he would walk-out of any club which forced him to sign players against his wishes.
Evans made 113 appearances for the League One champions before being jailed for a rape - a conviction which was later quashed - in 2012.
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Hide AdSpeculation has been rife the striker, who was subsequently found not-guilty at retrial, was effectively imposed upon Wilder by United’s board; a suggestion he strenuously denies.
“Ultimately, it was my decision and mine alone to get Ched,” Wilder said. “I’ve seen and heard things claiming otherwise but, quite simply, they aren’t true. I wouldn’t bring in anyone I didn’t want here or who I didn’t think could make a difference. Full stop.
“If that was ever the case, then I’d shake the chairman’s hand, wish them the best and say ‘thank-you’ before walking out of the front door. Just like I walked in through the front.”
United paid Chesterfield an undisclosed sum to acquire Evans’ services earlier this month. Wilder, who canvassed opinion on the player from a variety of different sources before rubber-stamping the deal, also rubbished reports the Wales international is set to earn £10,000 a week.
“I’ve seen some of the facts and figures being banded around about,” Wilder added. “To be honest, they’re so far from the truth, they’re laughable.”