TV presenter Charlie Webster has followed through on her threat to quit as a Sheffield United patron in protest at the club bringing convicted rapist Ched Evans back to training.

The League One club confirmed on Tuesday that they have agreed to allow Evans to return and take part in training at the club.

Speaking on BBC Newsnight about her decision, women's rights campaigner Webster said: 'At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime… nobody is making a decision (at the club) and I suppose I feel I need to make a decision as a patron of Sheffield United.

Ched Evans will start training with his former club this week, despite opposition from some fans

Charlie Webster has decided to resign from her role as patron of Sheffield United

'My decision which I have informed the club a little bit earlier is to resign as a patron of Sheffield United.'

She tweeted on Wednesday morning: 'Overwhelmed by the level of your support. I am so heartened to see that the vast majority are standing with me & saying that this isn't okay.'

Evans was released from prison in October after completing half of a five-year jail sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman.

The 25-year-old has always protested his innocence and has since stressed his desire to return to football but Webster, who four weeks ago said she would quit if Evans was ever involved with the Blades again, doesn't believe the club are making the right decision.

She added: 'I don't believe a convicted rapist as in Ched Evans should go back to a club I am a patron of. He is not just going into a job...he is bandied as a role model.'

FULL CHARLIE WEBSTER TRANSCRIPT FROM NEWSNIGHT INTERVIEW 'Sheffield United haven't made a statement for four months and today, in fact, I had a conversation with the chairman. It was a positive conversation and I walked away from that… I read the statement and I looked at what the club were saying, and the stance that they've taken and the stance that the PFA have taken. 'At no point has anyone made a decision and Sheffield United still haven't made a decision. They've succumbed to the PFA, the PFA have asked if they trained with him, the FA have said it's a 'dilemma' and at no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime.' 'Over 155,000 people now have signed a petition against Ched Evans going back to the club. Nobody's making a decision and I suppose I feel that I need to make a decision as patron of Sheffield United. My decision, which I informed the club earlier on, is that I resign as patron of Sheffield United and Sheffield United Community Foundation, which is all about inspiring the next generation through sport. Webster appeared on BBC Newsnight on Tuesday night, and spoke strongly about her stance 'My decision is based on the fact that no convicted rapist, as in Ched Evans, should go back to the club that I am patron of, and go back into the community and represent the community. 'He's not just going into a job, he's bandied as a role model and we cheer him on as a role model, and he's influencing the next generation of young men who are currently still making their decisions on how to treat women and what sexual mutual consent is. 'I currently haven't had a response from the club but as I said I did have a conversation [with the chairman] which was very positive and friendly earlier on. They said to me that they still haven't made a decision but they have made a decision to let him come and train back at the club. 'I hope [that what I say now will have an impact]. I've spoken quite a few times now and now I'm here speaking to you. I'm trying to, I suppose, give victims of sexual abuse a voice because I think in this day and age, in 2014, we're a rich society – rich in education as well – and still there isn't an education on mutual consent.' [On the fact that Ched Evans has served his time] 'The PFA are the players' union so of course [chief executive Gordon Taylor] is going to say that – his interest is only for the players and to make sure the players get the best out of their situation. 'It's the same union that has recently been sued for sexism because it didn't allow a woman into a dinner, so I don't know what you would take from the PFA. 'Why have the club chosen to listen to the PFA and not the tens of thousands of fans that say they don't want Ched Evans back at the club…' Webster said: 'At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime' on Newsnight 'The point you've just made is that he scores goals, so why would the club bring him back to train? To me that's for one of two reasons: the club are bringing him back to get him match fit to play, or they're bringing him back to train him up to be sold in the January transfer window which is not a moral decision or a community decision, which clubs say they are all about. They are the heart of community. You cannot have it both ways. [On the crime being sexual] 'There's a lot [on the Wikipedia list of sports stars' crimes] so maybe the FA, instead of saying 'This is a dilemma' which is what the chairman Greg Dyke said, he should maybe do his job which is impose rules. 'Maybe the FA should make rules so that players can be told what they can and can't do. In my mind they can't go and rape and then go back into their job to influence the next generation. To me, it is personal, because I can comment on sexual abuse because I have been sexually abused, but also because I'm the patron of this club and of the Foundation, and I was brought up in the community of Sheffield, and I'm worried about my community. 'A lot of the fans have spoken up but the fans who are supporting Ched Evans maybe need to look at their own families and imagine what it would be like if it was their daughter or their wife or their mother, because one in five women in this country are sexually abused, which is a statistic that shouldn't exist in 2014. 'The reason why is because nobody speaks about it and the reason why nobody speaks about it is because they get abused. Me speaking about it, I've been abused; the lady that started the petition, she's been abused… I got told I should have a slap around my face to get myself back in order.' Evans scored 42 goals in 103 games for the Blades, having previously played for Man City and Norwich City Advertisement

'I have spoken quite a few times now and I am trying to give victims of sexual abuse a voice in this day and age in 2014 there still is not an education on mutual consent.

'Why have the club chosen to listen to the PFA and not the thousands and thousands of people who say they do not want him back?'

Two more Blades patrons, Sixties' pop star Dave Berry and the only other female patron, Lyndsay Graham, are following Webster in stepping down.

Webster, best known for her work on Sky Sports, revealed in January that she was sexually assaulted by her athletics coach when she was 15.

She is yet to receive a response from the club regarding her resignation, saying: 'I currently have not had a response... they said to me they still haven't made a decision (on allowing Evans to play again).'

Evans is to marry his fiancee Natasha Massey after proposing shortly after he was released from prison, where he served half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old girl

Paul Blomfield, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central who is also a Blades shareholder, says the club should think about changing their decision on Evans as it is 'dragging our name through the mud and dividing fans'.

In an open letter to United co-chairmen Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps, Blomfield writes: 'It's because I care so much about our club that I am writing to urge you to reconsider your decision to accept Ched Evans back to train with the team.

'The way this issue has been handled by the club is dragging our name through the mud and dividing fans. Yesterday's decision only makes that situation worse. I really hope that you will reflect further and change your mind.'

Shirt sponsor John Holland car sales warned it would consider tearing up its contract with the Blades if they re-sign Evans because the business: 'Condemns rape and violence of any kind against women'.

DBL Logistics, who are back-of-the-shirt sponsors for the Blades, said it would continue to offer its financial support for the time being, but would withdraw that should Evans be re-signed by the club.

'DBL Logistics would end its back-of-shirt sponsorship with Sheffield United if the Club employed a convicted rapist. However, whilst the current situation remains and Ched Evans is not contracted to Sheffield United, DBL Logistics will continue its business to business relationship with the club.'

Sheffield United risked the fierce backlash on Tuesday night with the confirmation, along with a statement saying that there can be 'no place for mob justice' regarding the situation.

The statement read: 'After due consideration, the board has decided to respond favourably to the PFA's request and to allow Mr Evans to train at the club's facilities.

'While some have speculated about whether the club will or should invite Mr Evans to return to SUFC as a registered footballer, the club is not prepared at this time to decide that issue.'

Massey, pictured on ITV's This Morning, said she put thoughts of Evans's infidelity 'to one side'

The statement went on to say that 'the club condemns rape and violence of any kind against women in the strongest possible terms' and 'does not question Mr Evans' conviction for rape' but 'there can be no place for mob justice'.

The PFA are behind the move that will see Evans take a step closer to resuming his professional career following his release from prison.

Chief executive Gordon Taylor said the union's role was to help their members even if they had been in prison.

He said in a statement: 'As a trade union it is our role to offer help and guidance to all our members whether dealing with success or the utmost difficulties.

'We have some current and former players who are in prison or have served time in prison.

'Some of those players maintain that they are innocent of the crime they are charged with whilst others accept that they are guilty; ultimately, any punishment of this nature follows a court process.

'It is a fundamental part of the justice system in this country and society in general that a person serves the punishment which the court determines is appropriate and, providing that has been done, an individual is entitled to be released to continue with his or her life.

'Needless to say, as part of that is a return to his or her career and that remains the case for professional footballers as it does for any other individual.'

PFA chief executive says the union is there to represent all its members

Taylor accepted the Evans case was provoking 'strong feelings'.

He added: 'We recognise that these issues can provoke strong feelings, however we feel that there must be some recognition that, if the justice system determines that an individual has served his or her punishment, then it is appropriate to allow them to return to the community.

'There is always a period of rehabilitation which can continue upon release and we are happy to offer any assistance we can to our members in these situations.'

Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.

The Welsh striker denied rape, saying the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

It is thought Evans, pictured with Massey before he was convicted, did not want to propose from jail

It is understood that the 25-year-old former Wales striker, who earned £20,000 a week at Bramall Lane before his conviction in April 2012, will not be paid by Sheffield United.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.

An appeal against Evans's conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012. His case is due to be looked at by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

After his release, Evans released a video on his website protesting his innocence and vowing to clear his name.

He scored 42 goals in 103 games for the Blades, having previously played for Manchester City and Norwich City.

Webster revealed in January she was sexually assaulted when she was 15

When Webster warned in October she would quit her role at the club if they re-signed Evans she was immediately branded a 'hypocrite' by Evans' sister Kylie, who retweeted a message the presenter posted in September saying she wanted to get a photograph with former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson.

Evans' sister, who also maintains the footballer's innocence, pointed to a tweet which Miss Webster posted on September 10.

It reads: 'Just bumped into Mike Tyson in the hotel lobby as I was randomly talking about him! I chickened out on asking for a photo...damn.'

Evans' sister tweeted: 'This is the same Charlie Webster that's just threatened to leave United. Hypocrite.'

Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 after an incident the previous year and subsequently served three years of a six-year sentence.

Responding to the tweet, Webster said: 'I am not going to stand here and say she said this, I said that.

'I am not going to comment on her but I have apologised and find it very sad that's taken away from what I said this morning.

'I did not think about that tweet at the time and I'm not proud of that tweet but the response has been another example of berating someone for speaking out against rape.

'But I am not thinking about Mike Tyson. I am thinking about Ched Evans. The reason people don't stand up to rape is because they get abused on Twitter for it.

'The victim has had to take on a new identity and had a hate campaign against her. Nobody should have to go through that. I would ask the community to get behind the victim.'

On September 10, the presenter tweeted her regret at not getting a photo of convicted rapist Mike Tyson

VIDEO Ched Evans training with Sheffield United