Glasgow United may lose ground if they sign rapist David Goodwillie ...

The leader of Glasgow City Council has threatened to ban a city team from their ground if they sign rapist footballer David Goodwillie. Susan Aitken warned Glasgow United she has already instructed council officials to examine the agreement allowing the side to use the Shettleston site.

In a tweet on Sunday, she insisted she is “ready to walk away” from permitting the club from using the Greenfield Football Centre. The move comes after disgraced Goodwillie, 34, played as a trialist for the West of Scotland Football League side in a friendly last week.

Goodwillie was found to have raped a woman in 2017 in a civil case ruling at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Ms Aitken said: “David Goodwillie has been found, in court, to be a rapist. However, in more than 12 years, he has never once shown any kind of contrition or remorse.

“Any club that signs him is making a very clear statement about its attitude to the safety of women and girls - both in sport and in its community.

“It would be an outrageous decision, wholly at odds with how community facilities like Greenfield should be run. I’ve asked officers to look at the council’s agreement with Glasgow United and made it clear that I’m ready for the city to walk away.”

Goodwillie, who continues to protest his innocence, and his former Dundee United team-mate, David Robertson, were judged to have raped Denise Clair. The pair have never faced criminal charges in relation to the allegation.

They were ordered to pay damages of £100,000 to Ms Clair, who waived her right to anonymity. Goodwillie declared bankruptcy and Ms Clair did not receive a penny.

Goodwillie left Plymouth Argyle by mutual consent in the wake of the ruling and spent almost five years at Clyde, despite criticism of the club’s decision to offer him employment.

But subsequent moves to Raith Rovers, Northern Premier League Radcliffe and Australian outfit FC Sorrento collapsed amid withering criticism.

Glasgow United has been contacted for comment.

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