RAITH ROVERS have defended their decision to sign David Goodwillie.

The club have released a statement on the club's website detailing that the move was a "football decision".

Rovers have received understandable backlash throughout Tuesday since the news broke late on Deadline Day.

Goodwillie - who signed from Clyde - was branded a rapist by a judge in a civil court in 2017.

The 32-year-old and fellow Dundee United team-mate at the time David Robertson were ordered to pay Denise Clair £100,000 in damages after a criminal case was dropped.

Since the news late last night, two club directors have resigned, while women's club captain Tyler Rattray and the club's supporter liaison officer also quit.

Stadium announcer Johnny MacDonald and Marie Penman, who was employability project delivery officer with the club's community foundation, have also departed their roles.

Meanwhile, famous crime author and major sponsor, Val McDermid, who has a stand named after her at Stark's Park, furiously withdrew her sponsorship of the Championship club.

A spokesperson for Rovers said: "As announced on our website last night, Raith Rovers FC can confirm that we have signed David Goodwillie from Clyde FC.

"David is a proven goal scorer, and this will be his second stint with the club, having previously played for us on loan from Dundee United during season 2007-08.

"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.

"As David has previously played for Raith Rovers earlier in his career, we consider him to be part of Raith Rovers Football Club. The management team is familiar with David’s career and background and – in particular – his footballing ability. That is our foremost consideration, and we believe that he will strengthen the Raith Rovers playing squad.

"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."