The status of Raith Rovers was in ruins on Tuesday night time after their determination to signal David Goodwillie was branded 'disgusting and despicable'.
On a outstanding day at Stark's Park, a livid backlash to the signing of the controversial striker led to a number of key workers and sponsors terminating their affiliation with the membership.
Essentially the most excessive profile was Val McDermid, the best-selling Scottish crime author who had been a lifelong fan and a key monetary backer for the Kirkcaldy membership.
Goodwillie was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages by a choose in a civil court docket case in 2017 after he was discovered to have raped a girl at a flat in West Lothian six years beforehand.
The 32-year-old joined Raith in a deadline-day transfer from Clyde however, regardless of widespread outrage, the membership had been decided to face by the participant on Tuesday.
In what has proved to be a PR catastrophe for Raith, a day of controversy noticed:
- McDermid pull the plug on all funding and sponsorship, having been the primary shirt sponsor since 2014.
- The captain of Raith's Ladies's crew, Tyler Rattray, give up the membership after serving for ten years as a participant.
- Former chairman Invoice Clark resign from the board, together with fellow director Andrew Mill, after they had been outvoted by 4 to 2 of their opposition to the signing.
- Raith's supporter liaison officer, Margie Robertson, give up her position together with Johnny MacDonald, the membership's long- serving stadium announcer of 40 years.
- First Minister Nicola Sturgeon categorical her help for McDermid and Rattray, with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown - a lifelong Raith fan - additionally making clear his opposition to the signing.
- Raith lastly launch a press release at 5.38pm, however the language and tone used inside it had been extensively perceived to be ill-judged and insensitive, thereby heightening the sense of revulsion.
Rovers boss John McGlynn insisted Goodwillie missed Tuesday night time's 3-3 house draw with Queen of the South as a result of a slight hamstring damage. And he didn't become involved within the off-the-field response to the previous Scotland striker's signing.
Requested if there have been any regrets given the backlash, or if the membership would rethink their place within the face of protests from followers and sponsors, he informed BBC Sportsound: 'The club have made a statement. They've come out and put their place for everybody to see. The membership have mentioned they've taken consideration to make this. We didn't get up yesterday morning and simply determine we had been going to do that.'
McDermid had been a lifelong fan of Raith, offering the membership with vital monetary backing over time. She had initially made her stance clear again in December when she warned the membership towards signing Goodwillie.
However it fell on deaf ears because the Championship membership pressed on and signed the striker from League One Clyde.
McDermid wrote on Twitter: 'I have this morning ended my lifelong support of @RaithRovers over their signing of the rapist David Goodwillie. I have cancelled next season's shirt sponsorship over this disgusting and despicable transfer. This shatters any declare to be a neighborhood or household membership.
'Goodwillie has never expressed a shred of remorse for the rape he committed. His presence at Stark's Park is a stain on the membership. I'll be tearing up my season ticket too. This can be a heartbreaker for me and plenty of different followers I do know.
'The thought of the rapist David Goodwillie running out on the pitch at Stark's Park in a @RaithRovers shirt with my title on it makes me really feel bodily sick.'
Rattray then introduced that she had ended her 10-year affiliation with the membership. She Tweeted: 'After 10 long years playing for Raith, it's gutting I've given up now as a result of they've signed somebody like this and I would like nothing to do with it! It was good being captain of Raith whereas it lasted.'
Robertson additionally introduced she had resigned, saying: 'Due to recent developments within the club I have today tendered my resignation. My values and that of the club are now on a divergent path.'
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Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: 'The stances that @valmcdermid and women's crew captain @Tyler_RattrayX have taken are principled - although tough for each of them. However the truth they're on this place in any respect reminds us that our society nonetheless has a method to go to make zero tolerance of sexual violence a actuality.'
Ex-Labour chief Brown mentioned: 'I have always supported Raith Rovers but I cannot support this signing. I condemn rape and all violence against women. Because of the number of recent examples across football, I urge the football authorities to set out a policy to address cases of violence like this.'
But Raith issued a defiant assertion which outlined their intention to face by Goodwillie - arguing that it was a 'football-related decision' to signal him.
Their assertion learn: 'As with all new signings, the club has carefully considered our position as a community club and we completely respect the differing views among fans and stakeholders, many of whom we have spoken to directly in the past 24 hours and are continuing to engage with.
'Please be assured that as a community football club we fully acknowledge this signing has divided opinion amongst our loyal fans and commercial stakeholders; We aim to rebuild that trust.
'While acknowledging the gravity of what happened ten years ago, as a club we fully support and encourage rehabilitation, and many factors influenced our signing.
'First and foremost, this was a football-related decision.'