A FOOTBALL club which came in for criticism after re-signing a player it had previously released for his role in a sex offence committed against two 12-year-old girls has backtracked.

As reported yesterday, Basingstoke Town Football Club had been criticised by some section of its fans for re-signing forward Jahson Downes after he had been dismissed from the club 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.

Last night, the club posted a short message on its website.

The statement read: "Over the course of the last few days following conversation between Jahson and the management staff it is within the interest of both parties that he is deregistered from the club.

"Our focus now turns to tonight’s important fixture with Chesham United FC."

Fans have thus far been welcoming of the move to deregister Mr Downes, though criticism of the club has remained over its handling of the situation.

In the 2011 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.