Non-league football team Radcliffe FC have issued a statement confirming the release of recently acquired player, David Goodwillie, who was found to have raped a woman in a court case.
The Northern Premier League side based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, informed fans of the Scottish striker’s departure on Wednesday, following intense backlash on social media.
Writing in the brief statement by way of an apology, Radcliffe said that his rather out-of-the-blue signing was a “significant misstep and [their] due diligence should have been of a much higher standard.”
Back in 2017, a judge ruled Goodwillie, 33, guilty of raping a woman. He will not train or play for the club again at any point in the future.
The former Dundee, Blackburn and Aberdeen striker – who has played for 14 different clubs since beginning his professional career back in 2006 – was previously released from Scottish club Raith Rovers after a short-lived spell which ended in March 2022, failing to play a single game for the team.
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He was loaned to the Scottish Championship side from semi-pro team Clyde FC, who he spent more than five years playing for.
However, after information surrounding his civil court case and rape charge became public, both teams refused to play him and Clyde’s women’s team even said they no longer wished to represent the club while he was still under contract.
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Goodwillie’s signing seemingly came out of nowhere as no official announcement was made by the club. Radcliffe’s social media accounts were hit with abuse when he suddenly appeared in the matchday squad for their game against Belper Town, during which he made his debut and scored a hattrick.
You just thought you’d slip Goodwillie in without anyone noticing and without mentioning it?
As the club on go to detail in their full response, they insisted that the club “have always been about second chances and have been a part of many players and staff members rehabilitation along that journey” and “[giving] 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… We can vouch for all the people at the Club involved in this signing did so out of the desire to do a good thing for an individual with an admittedly tainted past as we have done so successfully before but this was a bridge too far.
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“This move came about very quickly, with clearance only granted extremely late leaving us in a position where our media volunteers were unable to release details prior to team sheets being produced – while regrettable this was also unavoidable.”
They go on to admit that, from the top to the bottom of the club, “[they] got this wrong” and their “focus was misplaced”, adding finally, “this is a mistake that will never happen again.”
Salford murder victim named and pictured after human remains found
Daisy Jackson
The victim of a major murder investigation in Salford has been named and pictured by police.
Detectives are ‘confident’ that the victim is Stuart Everett, 67, though formal identification is yet to take place.
A major investigation was launched on 4 April after body parts wrapped in plastic were found in Kersal Dale.
Further human remains were then discovered at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood over last weekend.
DNA samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis, after which the victim’s identity will be formally confirmed.
Stuart’s family are being supported by specially-trained GMP officers.
GMP said: “In the last 48 hours they have heard the most devastating news that anyone could hear, and our thoughts remain with them as they begin to process this.”
Two men have been charged with murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.
A large police presence will continue to be deployed around Salford as GMP looks to recover more evidence.
The remains found at the other three locations in Salford are still to be tested, but GMP says it is ‘confident’ that they belong to the same victim.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.
“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news.
“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.
“We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.
“We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.
“We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.”
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning (30 April 2024).
Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
BREAKING: Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to a form of cap on squad spending ahead of regulations being formulated, Sky News understands.
The proposed spending cap wouldn’t come into effect until the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”
Danny Jones -
8th February 2023 
