Raith backtrack and dismiss convicted rapist Goodwillie: "We made a mistake"

Raith Rovers signed Goodwillie, who was found guilty of rape back in 2017. 

Several members of the club resigned after the club's decision to sign him and many others opposed his signing. The club also saw several companies withdraw sponsorship. 

Finally, Raith Rovers have made a U-turn. In a statement, the club have said he "will not be selected by the club" and that they "will enter into discussions with the player regarding his contractual position. Goodwillie had signed for two and a half seasons. 

The chairman issued a statement on behalf of the board to apologise. "I firstly want to apologise wholeheartedly to our fans, sponsors, players and the wider Raith Rovers community for the anguish and anger caused over the past few days."

"We got it wrong," Raith Rovers highlight in bold. "We focused far too much on football matters and not enough on what this decision would mean for our club and the community as a whole. We listened carefully to the fans who have got in touch and I’m very grateful for their honesty. As chairman, as a board and as a management team, we have all learned a hard but valuable lesson," the statement continues."

"This very unfortunate episode is something that we all bitterly regret and we are now wholly committed to making things right. I can therefore confirm that, following a meeting of the Raith Rovers board, the player will not be selected by Raith Rovers and we will enter into discussions with the player regarding his contractual position," Raith add. 

The Scottish club have promised to do things differently and they will take decisions calmly and with Raith Rovers' best interests at heart. "We share a desire to do what is best for our club and will be doing everything in our power to regain the trust and confidence of the Raith Rovers family," they conclude.

 

February 3, 2022