Raith Rovers owner John Sim 'appalled' by David Goodwillie backlash - 'my initial reaction was close the club'

Raith Rovers owner John Sim has revealed he considered shutting down the club over the “unfair” backlash to the David Goodwillie signing.

Admitting he was “appalled” by the public backlash, Sim also expressed sympathy for Goodwillie as he defended the club's decision to sign him.

The former Scotland striker, who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil court in 2017, joined the Kirkcaldy club from Clyde on January 31 for a fee of around £50,000, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with the Championship side.

The move sparked national outrage, and led main sponsor Val McDermid to withdraw her support, along with a host of long-serving club volunteers, while directors Bill Clark and Andy Mill, who voted against the signing, handed in their resignations.

The Raith Ladies team also severed ties with the club to set up on their own.

After initially doubling down, Rovers eventually backtracked with an apology and insisted Goodwillie would not play for the club before loaning him back to Clyde, who are also not playing the striker due to facing a similar reaction.

However, Raith's majority shareholder has suggested the backlash was unmerited.

"I’m appalled by the reaction to it and, initially, my reaction was, ‘well, if he can’t play for the club, let’s close the club’,” Sim told The Courier. “I didn’t think it was fair.

“The guy has been playing at Clyde for years. He’s been coaching, been their captain and won player of the month awards.

“Surely you need to move on and let the guy pick up the pieces.

“How much do you punish someone? Since I’ve been knee-high to a grasshopper, I’ve believed in forgiving but not necessarily forgetting.

“I feel for David, and I feel for his wife and daughter.”

Sim has since stepped down as