Blades cut all ties with rapist Ched Evans

Ched Evans is among 11 players released by Sheffield United following the club’s npower League One play-off final heartache.

Evans’ 35 goals helped fire the Blades to the brink of automatic promotion, but he missed the last three games of the regular season after being found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison. The Blades paid £3million to Manchester City for Evans in the summer of 2009.

Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, 33, who missed the decisive spot-kick in their agonising 8-7 defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday, has also been released, along with James Beattie, Johnny Ertl and Andy Taylor. New deals have been offered to midfield pair Kevin McDonald, a former Dundee player, and Lee Williamson plus former Motherwell striker Chris Porter.