Coventry City have signed former Wigan striker Marlon King on a one-year contract, after a spell training with the Championship club.
The 30-year-old played under Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd at Watford.
"I am very grateful for the chance Coventry City have given me and I look forward to working with Aidy again," King told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.
King was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of sexual assault and was released from prison in July.
He was a free agent following his release and has since vowed to clear his name.
The forward was a Wigan player on loan at Hull City when he was jailed and after being sacked by the Latics, chairman Dave Whelan insisted he would "never pull on the shirt of Wigan Athletic again."
But Whelan has since claimed he has forgiven the player, saying: "He's served his sentence. I'm sure he's learned a lot and I forgive him and wish him well if he gets back into the game.
"I was very upset at the time, but I really think you've got to forgive people because we all make mistakes and if he can get back into the game, good luck to him."
King, a Jamaica international, started his career with Barnet, before moving to Gillingham and then Nottingham Forest.
When I managed Marlon at Watford, he was a first-class professional and I fully expect that to be the case at Coventry.
Coventry City boss Aidy Bootroyd on new signing Marlon King
While at Forest, he was briefly loaned out to Leeds United, before making his Premier League debut with Watford in the 2006-07 season.
In January 2008, he moved to Wigan for ?3m on a three-and-a-half year contract with a ?40,000 a week salary.
The Sky Blues are currently mid-table in the Championship and following their 2-1 win over Bristol City on Saturday, Boothroyd said: "I think we are getting a ?5m player for nothing.
"I'm very happy with my squad as it is, but Marlon has been a terrific player at a high level and the 30-year-olds give us that bit extra."
After finalising the deal, Boothroyd added: "He's been working very hard with us in an attempt to regain his fitness. He has looked sharp in training and in a couple of reserve matches but we will have to assess very carefully when he is ready to step into Championship football.
"When I managed Marlon at Watford, he was a first-class professional and I fully expect that to be the case at Coventry."
hmmmmm..........
The 30-year-old played under Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd at Watford.
"I am very grateful for the chance Coventry City have given me and I look forward to working with Aidy again," King told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.
King was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of sexual assault and was released from prison in July.
He was a free agent following his release and has since vowed to clear his name.
The forward was a Wigan player on loan at Hull City when he was jailed and after being sacked by the Latics, chairman Dave Whelan insisted he would "never pull on the shirt of Wigan Athletic again."
But Whelan has since claimed he has forgiven the player, saying: "He's served his sentence. I'm sure he's learned a lot and I forgive him and wish him well if he gets back into the game.
"I was very upset at the time, but I really think you've got to forgive people because we all make mistakes and if he can get back into the game, good luck to him."
King, a Jamaica international, started his career with Barnet, before moving to Gillingham and then Nottingham Forest.
When I managed Marlon at Watford, he was a first-class professional and I fully expect that to be the case at Coventry.
Coventry City boss Aidy Bootroyd on new signing Marlon King
While at Forest, he was briefly loaned out to Leeds United, before making his Premier League debut with Watford in the 2006-07 season.
In January 2008, he moved to Wigan for ?3m on a three-and-a-half year contract with a ?40,000 a week salary.
The Sky Blues are currently mid-table in the Championship and following their 2-1 win over Bristol City on Saturday, Boothroyd said: "I think we are getting a ?5m player for nothing.
"I'm very happy with my squad as it is, but Marlon has been a terrific player at a high level and the 30-year-olds give us that bit extra."
After finalising the deal, Boothroyd added: "He's been working very hard with us in an attempt to regain his fitness. He has looked sharp in training and in a couple of reserve matches but we will have to assess very carefully when he is ready to step into Championship football.
"When I managed Marlon at Watford, he was a first-class professional and I fully expect that to be the case at Coventry."
hmmmmm..........
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