Woman’s Football chief executive Aileen Campbell claimed it was a ‘badly misjudged’ choice by the Kirkcaldy team.
The signing of David Goodwillie has “tainted” Raith Rovers’ image and may have “devastating ramifications” for women athletes, according to the chief executive of Scottish Women’s Football (SWF).
Aileen Campbell claimed that adding Goodwillie, 32, who was convicted rape or sexual by a civilian lawsuit, was a “badly misjudged” choice by the Kirkcaldy Championship team.
The team has already lost its primary sponsor due to the contentious signing, with novelist Val McDermid, whose information appears on the club’s jerseys and seats, withdrawing her backing.
Many at the club have stepped down, Tyler Rattray, the captain of Raith’s women’s squad, while previous Prime Minister and Raith Rovers supporter Gordon Brown have said that he “does not support” Goodwillie’s recruitment.
An internet campaign has been started demanding that the striker be kicked out of the team and for the organization to “ensure that future signing decisions can continue to be family-friendly”.
Raith’s choice to recruit Goodwillie, according to Ms. Campbell, a previous Scottish Government social secretary, was a bad one. She reportedly told Radio Scotland’s Hello Scotland that the decision “sends the wrong signal, message, to society and particularly to women”.
“The fact that the women’s club has lost its captain as a result of this is devastating, that would be a devastating consequence to lose women from the game as a result of this poor decision.” she said.
Ms Campbell stated that SWF has “offered support to the women’s club and the women’s team to make sure we can help them through this”.
Following a judicial finding in a civil lawsuit in 2017 that he and now-retired footballer David Robertson had assaulted a girl, Raith Rovers recruited Goodwillie.
The two people were asked to pay the victim £100,000 in penalties; however no legal charges were filed against them.
According to the club, the move was “first and foremost… a football-related choice,” according to the club.
The team touted Goodwillie as a “proven goalscorer” whose footballing talent would assist “strengthen the Raith Rovers playing team” in a release justifying the deal.
“We can’t shy away from the fact it is a privilege to work in football and football has real influence and sway, particularly over young fans, and that is why this decision feels poor,” Ms. Campbell remarked.
