Rapist David Goodwillie signs for new club only for contract to be ...

Disgraced footballer David Goodwillie saw his contract with a new club ripped up just hours after it was announced.

The former Blackburn striker, who was ruled by a judge at a civil court case in 2017 to have raped a woman, signed a deal with Australian semi-professional outfit Sorrento FC.

Sorrento, who are managed by Scottish former midfielder Steven McGarry, posted on Facebook: “With David, we get a player with real quality and experience. He’s played in the top leagues in England and Scotland while also representing Scotland at international level so he’s a massive addition to the club.”

However, the announcement was met with a backlash from fans of the Perth-based club and within a few hours the post had been deleted and the player’s contract had been withdrawn.

READ MORE: David Goodwillie sacked by new club hours after scoring debut hat-trick

A subsequent Facebook statement said: “Sorrento Football Club has rescinded its contract with David Goodwillie.

“David was scheduled to arrive in Perth within the next week to commence playing with the club for the remainder of the 2023 NPLM season. The arrangement was non-commercial in nature.

“The club has informed David of its decision and apologises to anyone in our football and broader community that may have been caused offence by this signing.”

It wasn’t the first time Goodwillie’s presence has triggered a backlash against a club after he turned out for Northern Premier League side Radcliffe earlier this year. The club had made no announcement of his signing, and did not list the 34-year-old forward as one of two changes to their starting line-up on Twitter.

But Goodwillie’s name appearing on the team sheet was met with an angry response on social media.

Goodwillie scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory before Radcliffe confirmed he would not play for them again.

“We can confirm that David Goodwillie has left the club,” read a statement. “As a club we have always been about second chances and have been a part of many players and staff members rehabilitation along that journey, we’ve always given people a chance to improve their life and found support in this endeavour.

“When the club were presented with David Goodwillie that same logic was applied, but in this case it’s clear that was a significant misstep and our due diligence should have been of a much higher standard.”