Clyde fan MSP to boycott club for re-signing rapist footballer David Goodwillie and says it’s WORSE than first time
A PROMINENT MSP who is a Clyde season ticket holder says the club re-signing David Goodwillie is WORSE than signing him for the first time.
John Mason MSP, who is also one of the club's owners, has slammed their decision to bring Goodwillie back on a loan deal.
Goodwillie signed for Raith Rovers from Clyde in the January transfer window and there was widespread outrage when he was announced.
The former Dundee United striker was convicted of rape via civil court proceedings in January 2017.
Mason, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, tweeted: "Incredibly disappointed @clydefc signing David Goodwillie again. Mistake in 2017 & repeating mistake is inexcusable. Yes, fans like his goals. But should we not look at wider aspects? Is violence against women being downplayed? Will not be at any more Clyde games this season.
In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, he said: "I'm unbelievably disappointed but not entirely surprised.
"The club made a mistake as far as I'm concerned in 2017 (when they signed Goodwillie for the first time) and I said that at the time.
"To make the same mistake again is really inexcusable especially after all the coverage there has been since he went to Raith."
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Mason admitted he stopped going to Clyde matches when Goodwillie was signed by the Broadwood club five years ago.
He since returned but says he is now not only boycotting matches but considering whether he will remain one of the club's owners.
Mason said: "In the five years (since Clyde signed Goodwillie) people have raised it with me, him scoring 109 goals, have you been celebrating or not?
"That's been an ongoing thing but my stance on this is pretty clear.
"The last time I think it was March and I didn't go for the rest of the season but went back, this time I'm certainly not going to go for the rest of the season.
"Signing him for a second time is somehow WORSE and I'm one of the owners, Clyde are fan-owned, so that kind of thing I'll be considering.
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"I will be reflecting over the next few days over what I do next.
"I think most of the fans who would walk away have already walked away but there will be a few like me who feel it as a different ball game now."
Despite his strong stance, Mason claims he is in the minority when it comes to the displeasure over Goodwillie's signing - insisting most fans at both Raith and Clyde DID support the rapist.
Mason has previously said that he faced digs from certain supporters over his stance on Goodwillie.
He said: "The reality is that the Saturday after he signed for Raith, Clyde fans were singing for him to come back.
"Even Raith fans were singing for him.
"I think the majority of fans at both clubs did want him but Raith have more high profile fans than we do and their voice carried whereas I was very much in the minority.
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"There were other long term Clyde fans who walked away in 2017 and have never been back.
"I've kept watching Clyde but I'm going to have to consider it at this point."
When asked by BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis to expand on those thoughts as he brought up the resignations of Raith volunteers and the outspoken criticism of the club by famous supporter and backer Val McDermid, Mason reiterated his belief that the majority are not prepared to sacrifice their fandom on moral grounds.
He said: "I have spoken to David Torrance (MSP for Kirkcaldy). I get the impression that at both Clyde and Raith there are a minority of fans who sing anything at the games but when we were at East Fife that Saturday back in February the fans were singing FOR David Goodwillie and AGAINST Val McDermid and I believe something similar happened at Raith.
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"It does seem that quite a lot of football fans just want their team to win regardless of whatever the cost is.
"They're just not prepared to draw the line and say 'My team is wrong'."
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