It does depend how. King signing for us does and did make me feel very uncomfortable because he refused to accept he'd done anything wrong, the manager tried to bully people with concerns, and some fans hero worshipped a sex offender before he'd even kicked a ball for us - all because we were desperate for a striker. That's not a good message to send out. Likewise, Evans is making me very uncomfortable. If we accept he was in fact unfairly convicted (and the law says so) it's still been done in a rather distasteful way with no real self awareness of his own behaviour. Football's rather more high profile than accountancy, and a generally accepted part of a footballer's job is a spot of community work, including to schools and / or around schoolchildren from time to time. Where's the example being set from somebody who learns nothing and gets success and fame despite being a bit of a c**t?
Take away the local aspect, and I'm more comfortable with Lee Hughes, who at least paid lip service to regret for his actions.
There is a very positive message that can come out of somebody who's done wrong turning their life around, being an example of how to change and how to wish they hadn't done what they'd done. Football often goes for the amoral approach though - if you can score goals, you're in - we'd have hired Shipman if he could have headed a few goals in from corners... and just look at Jamie Allen!