THE DEBATE around Ched Evans return rumbled further along yesterday as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam, weighed into the debate.

Clegg warned Sheffield United's owners - who have held discussions over the return of the convicted rapist - to "think really long and hard" before re-signing Evans.

How the Town boss would deal with the situation is a tough question that Mark Cooper only has to answer in theory, but when posed with it in his pre-match press conference he did not simply brush it aside.

Asked if he had any advice for Nigel Clough on the issue, Cooper said: “I’m in no position to give Nigel advice on things like that. He’s a far more experienced manager and I’m sure his football club will make the right decision.

“My only thing about it is that he’s committed the crime, he’s been to prison. What he did and what he was punished for was a terrible thing but he’s paid his dues. How long do you punish someone for? That’s a decision the club will have to make.”

However, asked whether signing Evans was something Swindon would consider, Cooper quickly refuted the idea.