David Goodwillie: Clyde U-turn on loan deal after female players quit & council ban on striker
- Published
David Goodwillie previously played for Clyde from March 2017 until joining Raith Rovers in January
Clyde say they will terminate a loan deal for David Goodwillie after a furious reaction to re-signing the former Scotland striker.
The 32-year-old was judged in a civil court in 2017 to be a rapist.
The entire playing squad and general manager of Clyde's women's team had quit in protest at the move.
And North Lanarkshire Council - who own the club's ground - threatened to end the lease agreement if Goodwillie entered Broadwood Stadium.
Late on Thursday, the part-time Scottish League 1 outfit released a brief statement, saying: "The club are tonight in the process of terminating the loan agreement with Raith Rovers for David Goodwillie."
Capped three times for Scotland between 2010-11, the striker had spent five years at Clyde before a January move to full-time Raith Rovers was met with a backlash of protests as several high-profile sponsors and board members left the Kirkcaldy club.
A return to Broadwood was agreed this week but that has now broken down.
"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," the women's team said in a statement.
"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."
North Lanarkshire Council had written to Clyde stating that Goodwillie "must not be permitted access to the stadium, for any purpose, with immediate effect".
The local authority have cited a clause in the tenancy where a person can be denied entry "on the grounds of undesirable behaviour".
In a statement, they added: "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."
The council also said they did not act in this manner during Goodwillie's first spell at Clyde because the stadium was not legally under their control at that time.