A FOOTBALL club has faced backlash for re-signing a player it had previously released for his role in a sex offence committed against two 12-year-old girls.

It was announced last week that Jahson Downes had signed for Basingstoke Town Football Club.

Mr Downes had previously played at The Camrose but the club had terminated his contract in 2011 when his role in sex acts performed on the girls by six men in Reading in 2010 became public via a court case.

Each of the men pleaded guilty to statutory rape with the charge reflecting the fact the girls were not able to provide consent due to their age.

Town fans have hit out at the decision to re-sign Mr Downes, now 28, who since leaving Basingstoke has played for a other non-league level clubs including Marlow and, most recently, Thatcham Town.

Messages against the signing also came in on the online fans forum of Basingstoke Town FC.

One poster said: “Utterly shocking, if this is a move to a community club then count me out.”

Another added: “The football club needs to be honest now and those that sanctioned the appointment of Downes should walk. I cannot and will not stand by anyone that considers the appointment of Downes.”

Another added: "I think the decision just needs to be reversed. It’s a bad decision and I think those involved with it will realise that when they find out the facts. Common sense will hopefully prevail here."

Fans have e-mailed the Gazette to say they will no longer attend matches while the player is at the club, with others pledging protests against the running of the club itself.

The Gazette approached the club for a statement on the matter, but was told there was no official word on the situation at this time.

However, it is understood a board meeting was due to be held on Wednesday night to discuss the matter in its entirety.

When the club originally terminated Mr Downes’ contract, in a statement at the time the board of directors was said to be ‘deeply shocked by the seriousness of the offence’ and added that the club was not informed of the situation by the player, then 20.

The Court of Appeal reduced the two-year sentences handed to the men to one year suspended, with the punishment deemed as “excessive”.

Mr Downes was also a youth team player at Reading Football Club, before initially joining Basingstoke Town.