Pressure continues to mount on Raith Rovers over their decision to sign David Goodwillie with thousands signing a petition to terminate his contract.
The Kirkcaldy club signed the Clyde striker on deadline day but have been met with near-universal criticism for the decision.
Many feel the club have shunned their purported "family club" ethos by signing former Dundee United player Goodwillie, who was ruled to have raped a woman in the civil court in 2017 after charges were dropped by the Crown six years earlier.
Long-term sponsor Val McDermid, director Bill Clark and women's team captain Tyler Rattray headline a growing list of resignations from the club that have come as a result with condemnation coming from as high as the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
The Stark's Park doubled down on Tuesday and branded the signing a "football-related decision." And that was met with a huge backlash for sending the "wrong message" to girls and women in football.
Many fans have voiced their disgust at the club and the Fife Free Press launched a petition in the hours after the signing calling on Raith to terminate the 32-year-old's contract.
And within 48 hours that petition, hosted on Change.org, has cleared its initial target of 2,500 signatures.
The petition reads: "On January 31, 2022, Raith Rovers unveiled the signing of player David Goodwillie, a man who was ruled to be a rapist and ordered to pay damages in a civil case in 2017.
"The Fife Free Press newspaper, which proudly serves the people of the Kirkcaldy area, feels that Raith Rovers can not continue to call themselves a family club while expecting fans to cheer for a man ruled to be a rapist wearing the club's colours.
"Already fans and sponsors are withdrawing their support for the club. We want Goodwillie axed from the club, but that's not all.
"Until this signing, Raith Rovers was and had always been first and foremost a family club.
"In order to return the club to those ideals we want to see it work in close harmony with rape and domestic abuse charities to improve the culture and once more make Stark's Park a ground families can proudly take their families to.
"Raith Rovers have a long proud association with the Kirkcaldy community, and that's something we'd like to see continue.
"That's why we're asking you to sign our petition to have David Goodwillie removed from Raith Rovers, and ensure that future signing decisions can continue to be family-friendly. This brings a stain on the character of the club and shame to the supporters who have followed the club throughout its rich history."
