David Goodwillie: Clyde female players quit as striker bans council & chooses not to renew lease

The entire Clyde women’s team and general manager have left the club after the men’s team re-signed David Goodwillie.

The striker, who was ruled by a civil court in 2016 as a rapist, returned to the Scottish League 1 part-time club this week following a backlash when he moved to Raith Rovers in January.

Rovers said the 32-year-old would not play for them after several prominent sponsors and board members left in protest and loaned it back to Clyde – where he spent five years.

However, the former Scotland international’s return to the Broadwood stage has now sparked more anger.

“All the players on the women’s team discussed the situation with the general manager/secretary and all agreed that we no longer want to play for Clyde FC,” the women’s team said in a statement.

“As a group of female players, all we want to do is play the sport we love but due to the current circumstances we can’t do it.

“At this point, we want to ensure the health and privacy of our players, and therefore we ask that players not be approached personally to comment on this matter.”

North Lanarkshire Council wrote to Clyde saying that Goodwillie was “not allowed to enter the stadium, for any purpose, effective immediately”.

The local government cited a clause in the tenancy where a person could be denied entry “on the ground of undesirable behaviour”.

In a statement, they added: “Council believes in recovery…however, Mr Goodwillie did not express any concern.

“We regret that this action was needed. However, the council has a responsibility to the broader community to act, and send a clear signal that abuse will not be tolerated.”

The council also said they did not act this way during Goodwillie’s first spell at the Clyde because the stadium was not under their legal control at the time.