David Goodwillie could break all known scoring records between now and May and it won’t come close to justify the pain Raith Rovers have brought to their own doors.
When a board feels the need to vote on a new contract, it says a lot about the attachment to the player in question.
Indeed, Goodwillie – who was ordered to pay damages after a civil court ruled him a rapist in 2017 – carried a suitcase so full they struggled to sneak it through the gate. Downing Street to kneel.
Raith knew the dangers of signing David Goodwillie, and it was a disaster in their employment.
Raith Rovers always knew the dangers of signing him. By Tuesday morning, however, they were embroiled in a public relations disaster of their own making, and ignorance was beyond excuse.
A vocal and generous club sponsor – not to mention a lifelong supporter – crime author Val McDermid has been warning them for weeks. Say hello to the former Scotland striker and they can wave goodbye with her financial backing.
At a board meeting on Monday afternoon, Raith directors considered whether Goodwillie was the right and right person to play for the club.
Goodwillie may break every score record, but it won’t come close to justifying grief
Bill Clark, a former club president, has accepted the understandable view that he is not and fan director Andy Mill agrees. Backed by four other directors – chairman John Sim operates from a base in Thailand – the board has come to a ‘football-related decision’.
Goodwillie signed from Clyde before the transfer deadline, with Rovers competing for his services from League One Falkirk. The fact that a Scottish team failed to read the room was remarkable enough. Those two were dazed enough to think they could knock the beggars’ trust in the storm.
Any satisfaction or vindication Raith felt from winning the race for Goodwillie’s services was short-lived. McDermid has confirmed that she will be ending her shirt sponsorship deal with the club.
A series of Twitter posts read: ‘I have canceled next season’s shirt sponsorship because of this disgusting and despicable move. This breaks any claim to be a community or family club.
Crime author Val McDermid announces she’s ending her ‘lifetime’ support of the club
‘Goodwillie has never expressed remorse for the rape he committed. His presence at Stark’s Park is a stain on the club. I will also tear off my season ticket. This is a heartbreaking thing for me and for many other fans I know.
‘The thought of rapist David Goodwillie running out onto the field at Stark’s Park in a Raith Rovers shirt with my name on the back makes me feel physically exhausted. “
The floodgates were quickly opened. The club’s women’s captain, Tyler Rattray, quickly quit in protest.
“After 10 long years playing for Raith,” she tweeted, “It’s annoying that I’m giving up now because they signed someone like this and I want nothing to do with it. Good to have Be the captain of Raith while it lasts.’
Goodwillie was ordered to pay damages after a civil court ruled him a rapist in 2017.
Margie Robertson, who is in charge of soliciting in favor of the club, submitted her resignation on social media shortly after, writing: ‘My values and those of the club are now on a very different path.’
Amid public outcry and national condemnation, Clark felt he couldn’t go on anymore after his views were ignored at Monday’s board meeting.
“My work has been in youth development and community development since I stepped down as president,” he said Sportsmail.
‘I just think my credibility being put out there and trying to encourage young people etc – and women in particular into the women’s team – has come down with this decision. It’s going to make my life very, very, very difficult trying to go out there and convince people that we’re a real community club. ‘
Any satisfaction Raith may have felt after the move was quickly replaced by a backlash.
Asked if his views were heard or absorbed, he said curtly: ‘No.’
If Raith Rovers’ strategy is to turn away from criticism, make a deafening statement and ignore it, that quickly ceases to be an option. Authors Ian Rankin, Liam McIlvanney, and Richard Osman have offered to support McDermid on Twitter.
Crisis Scotland wrote about the need for ‘zero tolerance’ sexual violence. The story crossing the line is often tied to a Scottish football story when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed support for the stance taken by McDermid and Ms Rattray.
Praising them for being ‘principled’, she added: ‘The fact that they are in this position reminds us that our society still has a way of making sexual violence a reality.
Goodwillie had a life-saving rope thrown by Clyde, but still showed no sign of grief
Freed by Plymouth Argyle after he and former Dundee United team-mate David Robertson were accused of raping Denise Clair, Goodwillie had a lifeline thrown by Clyde. The striker has played there with almost no peeping for the past 5 years and many will ask what has changed now.
If the player himself has ever made a mistake or expressed a little sadness or anxiety about what happened that night, it may be a little easier to move on. Every sinner has a right to redemption and restoration, be it David Martindale or David Goodwillie.
Jailed for six and a half years in 2006 when he was caught by an undercover police operation performing a hands-on role in one of Britain’s largest cocaine gangs, Livingston’s manager Martindale has been honest. declares his guilt and motives. He reinvented himself.
While on bail, he enrolled in a construction project management program at Heriot-Watt University, emerging eight years later with a 2:1 ratio and accolades.
Goodwillie has been asked to pay £100,000 in compensation to his victims and has yet to say sorry
He began helping Livingston, serving a punishment commensurate with the crime and has now emerged as a smart and efficient football manager. He has paid the debt to society.
Goodwillie was ordered to pay £100,000 in compensation to his victim. He will also argue that he paid a heavy price for an offense for which he was never convicted in a criminal court as he lost his career, home, car and near like his family.
Trouble is it’s hard to show forgiveness to the man who didn’t say sorry or accept the extent of wrongdoing established by the balance of probabilities in a civil court by Lord Armstrong.
Football supporters are a fickle group. But the striker could lead one of the country’s oldest football clubs to the Scottish Premiership and there will be no dancing scenes in the streets of Raith. Only the clouds passed as donors and supporters left them there.
