Footballer Ched Evans, who was found guilty of raping a woman in a hotel, has released a video statement announcing his determination to play again.
The video was posted on his website following his release from prison last Friday after serving half of a five year prison sentence.
In the video Evans describes his guilt over cheating on partner Natasha Massey, who appears alongside him, and said he made “an incredibly foolish decision.”
The former Sheffield United striker said: “I hurt the woman I love with all my heart. Since that night I constantly regretted my act of infidelity and the damage that has been done on so many fronts because of it.
“The support that has been shown by Natasha our friends and family during the trial and the time spent in prison has kept me strong. It can’t have been an easy thing to have stood by someone who the court found guilty of such a destructive act.”
He said his lawyers had already taken steps to overturn the conviction and the sex was “consensual”.
Wearing a dark shirt and tie, the 25-year-old Welshman said: “Now that I have served the custodial part of my sentence of two and a half years, it is my hope that I will be able to return to football.
"If that is possible then I will do so with humility, having learnt a very painful lesson.
"I would like a second chance."
He added: “I don't believe I have a given right to play again, but for any club to take me on, I have learned a valuable lesson.
I know that over time I can prove myself to be a positive influence, not just on the pitch but also in the community."
