Raith Rovers: John McGlynn 'sorry' over David Goodwillie signing
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David Goodwillie has not played a game for Raith Rovers after there was a backlash over his signing
John McGlynn has apologised to Raith Rovers fans for the "enormous error" in signing David Goodwillie.
The Kirkcaldy club sparked an outcry when they signed the striker, who was ruled to be a rapist and ordered to pay damages in a civil case in 2017.
Raith have since said Goodwillie, 32, will not play for them, and McGlynn admitted the club underestimated the ferocity of fallout from the signing.
"We completely made a mistake," said manager McGlynn.
The Scottish Championship side were forced into a U-turn after a public backlash, which included sponsors walking away, two directors quitting and the women's team cutting ties with the club.
Goodwillie is still employed by the club as talks continue over terminating his contract.
"We didn't anticipate the level of fallout," said McGlynn. "He's been playing for Clyde for the past five years, club captain and scoring goals.
"We know we have a huge job to rebuild trust - it was an enormous error and we're sorry.
"We're not bad people. I'm not a bad person. I just want a chance to make it right.
"I'm a husband, I'm a father. I get it."
'There needs to be a clear-out of the board'
The author Val McDermid, who withdrew her support and sponsorship of Raith Rovers after the signing, says the club should have expected a backlash.
She told BBC Radio Scotland Drivetime: "I find it astonishing that they didn't imagine there would be this sort of fallout when everyone that they had spoken to connected to at the club - some of the directors, people like me, some of the people volunteering at the club - all said to them 'don't so this'.
"As far as I'm concerned there needs to be a complete clear-out of the board. The four remaining members of the board were the ones who were behind this move. That's the starting point that they need to go, and there needs to be a concerted effort to reach out to the community, to the fan organisations who have essentially run the club."
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