SNS GroupClyde Ladies have announced that they “no longer wish to play” for the club following the resignation of their manager over the resigning of David Goodwillie.
The club confirmed on Thursday that the manager/secretary resigned following the men’s team’s resigning of Goodwillie on loan from Raith Rovers.
In a statement, Clyde Ladies said: “We can today confirm the general manager/secretary of Clyde Ladies has resigned on hearing the news of the return of David Goodwillie to the club.
“All of the players in the ladies team have discussed the situation with the general manager/secretary and they are all in agreement that we no longer wish to play for Clyde FC.
“This will start with immediate effect.
“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.
“At this time, we wish to ensure the wellbeing and privacy of our players therefore we would ask that players are not approached personally for comment regarding this matter.”
Clyde revealed on Tuesday that Goodwillie had re-joined the club on loan following a furious backlash over his move to Raith Rovers.
Raith Rovers’ purchase of the striker from Clyde sparked a furore given the 32-year-old was found by a judge in a civil case in 2017 to have raped a woman.
Following the signing, ladies captain Tyler Rattray quit and the Raith Rovers ladies’ team – now known as the McDermid Ladies – broke their ties with the club.
The move also saw prominent supporters, directors and sponsors, including high-profile author Val McDermid, withdraw their backing from Raith following the signing.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon labelled the return to Clyde “as wrong as the signing by Raith Rovers”, and added: “I strongly support rehabilitation but it must start with remorse. Someone who has shown none for the trauma he caused cannot be a sporting role model.”
North Lanarkshire Council, which directly owns Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, revealed it was reviewing all its commercial partnership arrangements with Clyde following the club’s decision to bring back Goodwillie on loan.
Clyde have been contacted for comment.
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