The manager of a football club has apologised after saying they would sign a footballer who was jailed for domestic violence.
Earlier this week, Selby Town said they were prepared to give former Lincoln City trainee and Boston United striker Reece Thompson a "second chance".
The statement was met with anger by supporters and now the club has made a U-turn on the decision, Lincolnshire Live reports.
Thompson, 26, who is still on license after being released from prison, was jailed for 40 months and received a 10-year restraining order against a woman who was beaten with an iron bar and forced to eat paint.
The club released a statement saying they were prepared to give the striker a "second chance" - much to the anger of supporters.
It was the second time the club had weighed up a move for the footballer.
Officials later confirmed they would not take on Thompson.
Now, boss Christian Fox has offered the victim "unreserved apologies" and said their decision to sign the player was "misplaced."
In a statement, Mr Fox said: "The recent events surrounding the club have been severely misjudged.
"Thinking of giving someone like that an opportunity was misplaced and we should have realised that after the first incident. To think about it twice was extremely insensitive.
"There is not one individual person to blame on this and we should have been aware of the depth of ill feeling the matter would attract.
"We have dragged up horrible memories for individuals and families who suffer from domestic abuse.
"There is one victim who has suffered more than anyone in this and to her and her family we offer our unreserved apologies.
"We need to try and offer her some comfort and we will be writing to her privately.
"I want the club to be able to move on from this but I know It is going to take time and for a lot of people, that won’t be possible.
"On a personal level, I will be reaching out to the domestic abuse service companies in the area to try and build a relationship with them and support them in raising awareness of this horrible violence.
"I know words will never be enough but believe me when I say how sorry we are with the upset we have caused so many. We are not trying to make excuses or cover anything up.
"I hope once again Selby Town FC will be able to regain trust and rebuild its standing in the community."
The club's Twitter and Facebook account released a statement on Wednesday, September 23, saying: "Further to our previous statement, we have listened to all of the comments and Reece Thompson will not be signing for Selby Town Football Club."
