FEMALE players of Clyde FC quit their side with their general manager after the club’s men’s team re-signed David Goodwillie on loan. The striker, who a civil court ruled had raped a woman in 2011, has been dogged by controversy following his swift arrival and departure from Raith Rovers. The ex-Scotland international’s move to Raith […]
FEMALE players of Clyde FC quit their side with their general manager after the club’s men’s team re-signed David Goodwillie on loan.
The striker, who a civil court ruled had raped a woman in 2011, has been dogged by controversy following his swift arrival and departure from Raith Rovers.
The ex-Scotland international’s move to Raith provoked a huge backlash from the club’s fanbase after the Kirkcaldy outfit signed him for £50,000 in the January transfer window.
But the forward’s transfer was short-lived after a number of high-profile backers and club board members cut ties with the Scottish Championship side.
They include crime novelist Val McDermid, who in February withdrew her sponsorship of Raith’s men side and decided to sponsor the club’s women’s team instead.
On Tuesday, Clyde confirmed they had signed the forward on loan until the end of this season.
However, the move that has also been met with anger with their women’s squad members and general manager resigning in protest.
A statement from the women’s team said: “All of the players in the ladies, team have discussed the situation with the general manager/secretary and are all in agreement that we no longer wish to play for Clyde FC.
“As a group of female footballers, all we wish to do is play the sport that we love but due to the current circumstances we are unable to do this.
“At this time we wish to ensure the well-being and privacy of our players therefore we would ask that players are not approached personally for comment regarding this matter.”
BBC Sport reports North Lanarkshire Council have written to Clyde.
The council’s correspondence says Goodwillie, 32, ‘must not be permitted access to the stadium, for any purpose, with immediate effect’.
And the local government body referenced a clause in their tenancy which states an individual can be denied entry ‘on the grounds of undesirable behaviour’.
In a statement the authority also said: “The council believes in rehabilitation… however, Mr Goodwillie has not expressed any contrition.
“We regret that this action is necessary.
“However, the council has a responsibility to the wider community to act, and to send a clear signal that abuse must not be tolerated.”
Goodwillie and former Aberdeen left-back David Robertson were claimed to have raped Denise Clair, 30, at a flat in Armadale, West Lothian, after a night out in nearby Bathgate on January 2, 2011.
The two players have never faced a criminal court case over the allegations as the charges were dropped in July that year.
But in a civil ruling on the case on January 17, 2017, heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong said Goodwillie and Robertson “each raped her”.
Ms Clair sued striker Goodwillie and his then Dundee United colleague Robertson after being left “devastated” by a Crown decision not to prosecute.
She also waived her right to anonymity and Robertson and Goodwillie were instructed to pay £100,000 in damages.
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