John McGlynn says sorry for David Goodwillie signing as Raith Rovers boss finally speaks out on 'enormous mistake'

Raith boss John McGlynn has publicly apologised to supporters and the general football community for the highly controversial signing of David Goodwillie.

McGlynn had initially remained silent on the matter and even avoided media after the Kirkcaldy side's 0-0 draw with Hamilton on Saturday.

Raith signed the striker from League One Clyde in January on a two-and-a-half year deal.

But fans were dead against the transfer of the 32-year-old, who was ruled to be a rapist alongside former Dundee United team-mate David Robertson in a civil court in 2017.

The women's Rovers squad rebranded as McDermid Ladies, in honour of the crime writer Val McDermid - a long term sponsor of the club who pulled her support immediately in the aftermath. Many club volunteers quit while board member Bill Clark, who was against the transfer, resigned.

A statement from chairman John Sims last week explained Goodwillie wouldn't play for the club.

Now McGlynn has broken his silence as he said: “We have to apologise for bringing our football club and our supporters into the situation we are in.

"We just completely underestimated the depth of the feeling that's come from that signing.

"If we could turn the clock back, from everyone's point of view, we'd do it in a minute.

"Everyone's lost here, there's no winners in this.

“We underestimated the backlash and we’re sorry - it was an enormous mistake. We’re not bad people. I’m not a bad person. I just want a chance to make it right.“

It was confirmed that Goodwillie is not training and will not be playing for the club, with discussions ongoing at board level in regards to the a release from his contract.

"I’m not here to hang anyone out to dry”, added McGlynn, after confessing that it was a