David Goodwillie pressure mounts on Raith Rovers as release petition clears 2,500 signatures

Pressure continues to mount on Raith Rovers over their decision to sign David Goodwillie with thousands signing a petition to terminate his contract.

The Kirkcaldy club signed the Clyde striker on deadline day but have been met with near-universal criticism for the decision.

Many feel the club have shunned their purported "family club" ethos by signing former Dundee United player Goodwillie, who was ruled to have raped a woman in the civil court in 2017 after charges were dropped by the Crown six years earlier.

Long-term sponsor Val McDermid, director Bill Clark and women's team captain Tyler Rattray headline a growing list of resignations from the club that have come as a result with condemnation coming from as high as the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

The Stark's Park doubled down on Tuesday and branded the signing a "football-related decision." And that was met with a huge backlash for sending the "wrong message" to girls and women in football.

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Many fans have voiced their disgust at the club and the Fife Free Press launched a petition in the hours after the signing calling on Raith to terminate the 32-year-old's contract.

And within 48 hours that petition, hosted on Change.org, has cleared