Chairman hits out at Goodwillie deal flak

INCOMING Clyde chairman Norris Innes has defended the club’s decision to sign former Scotland striker David Goodwillie.

The Bully Wee have come under attack after recruiting the 28-year-old until the end of season last week, even though a civil case in January ruled that Goodwillie and former St Johnstone midfielder David Robertson were guilty of rape in 2011.

The pair were ordered to pay £100,000 in damages.

One-time Dundee United, Aberdeen and Blackburn player Goodwillie left Plymouth by mutual consent following the verdict but is now back playing with the Scottish League Two side.

That move has not gone down well with Clyde fan and MSP John Mason after he said he would boycott games, while Rape Crisis Scotland have also condemned the signing.

But Norris said: “Courage and conviction is required when you are seeking to help someone when others want to punish him and restrict his human rights.

“David is a free man with a financial charge on his head arising from the civil action against him.

“He is appealing the judge’s opinion and it will eventually establish a status and end point.

“There is no positive purpose or societal gain whatsoever to wish ill on him and allow his talents to stagnate and waste.

“Football and society would be failing if this was allowed to happen.

“If he ultimately has responsibilities to honour through any final binding decision, he should use the skills at his disposal to earn and honour it.

“I have helped people in need in the past and it can be testing and challenging, especially when they – sometimes – let you and themselves down, but I will not change.

“We have to beware of those who seek to use these matters for political and personal benefit and we should seek what is in us to seek what is in us to be authentic and true and make the right decisions, even if it isn’t universally or politically popular.”