DISGRACED former Kidderminster Harriers legend Lee Hughes was freed from jail today to continue his professional football career at Oldham Athletic.

Hughes, regarded as one of the all-time greats at Aggborough for his goal-scoring exploits in the mid-1990s,was let out of Featherstone Prison near Wolverhampton earlier this summer to finalise contract details with the Coca Cola League One side.

His release has provoked many debates about whether he should be allowed to get paid thousands of pounds a week as a footballer, when he is a convicted killer.

Oldham have called on fans not to pass moral judgment on Hughes.

Oldham Athletic spokesman, Gordon Lawton, said after his signing: "Although he'll be around for the Bristol Rovers match, we expect him to play in a reserve game or two first. It depends on how fit he's been keeping himself in prison."

The 31-year-old striker will join the Lancashire club after being released half way through his sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.

The one time £5 million Premiership star spent several hours finalising the deal after he was driven up north by a prison officer.

Hughes was jailed for six years in 2004 after his £100,000 Mercedes ploughed into a Renault Scenic on a country lane near Coventry.

The collision killed father of- four Douglas Graham.

The striker, who had earlier in the day played for West Bromwich Albion against Reading then went on the run for 36 hours before handing himself in.

Prior to the crash Hughes was a fans favourite at West Brom, the club he supported as a boy.

He had joined the Baggies from Harriers and had also spent a season at Coventry, having cost £5m, before rejoining Albion, when they were in the Premiership.

Following Hughes's conviction the club cancelled his contract.