Evans escapes jail sentence

Boston manager Steve Evans has been given a suspended jail sentence for tax fraud.

The Scottish tactician, along with former Pilgrims chairman Pat Malkinson, were both sentenced for their part in defrauding the public revenue at Southwark Crown Court on Friday afternoon.

Malkinson was given a two-year suspended sentence for his part in cheating the public revenue of around £323,000 as chairman of the Lincolnshire club.

Both Evans and Malkinson pleaded guilty to the charges back in September, with the future of the Boston manager put under serious threat as a result.

Between April 1997 and June 2002, Evans and Malkinson carefully disguised wages, fees and bonuses for players as expenses.

The scheme allowed Boston to work their way through non-league football to become members of The Football League in 2002.

In fact, had Evans been handed a custodial sentence on Friday, it was likely he would been relieved of his duties at The Staffsmart Stadium.

Instead, Evans will be able to continue with his role with the League Two strugglers, with an injury-ravaged Pilgrims squad hosting Notts County on Saturday - sitting second from bottom in the table.