A former Scotland international footballer is set to represent himself in court over a damages claim by a woman who alleges he raped her.

David Goodwillie made a brief appearance at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday to say he is now defending himself after a wrangle over legal fees.

Earlier this week, the striker lost a bid to overturn an order requiring him to set aside £100,000 for a damages action, leading his solicitors to withdraw from the case.

The 30-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raised a claim against Goodwillie and another footballer, David Robertson, alleging they raped her in the early hours of January 2, 2011. Both men deny the allegations.

The Crown dropped criminal charges against Goodwillie in July 2011 before the case went to trial but the victim lodged a civil damages claim for £250,000 earlier this year.

Goodwillie tried to have the order to set aside £100,000 revoked, claiming he would be left without legal representation, but judge Lord Armstrong refused.

At a brief hearing on Friday, Lord Armstrong said to Goodwillie: "I take it by your presence you wish to insist on your defence in this action."

The Plymouth Argyle player replied: "Yes."

Lord Armstrong told Goodwillie, 27, that it was open to him to seek other lawyers to act for him and the Law Society of Scotland could assist.

The judge said it may be an issue to have Goodwillie representing himself when it came to questioning the woman who has brought the action.

"If it is thought appropriate that arrangements or adjustments could be put in place, I will obviously consider that," Lord Armstrong said.

Simon Di Rollo QC, representing the woman, said the matter had been discussed with her on a hypothetical basis.

Someone accused of rape in a criminal court would be prohibited from personally questioning an alleged victim, and the issue is deemed to be similar in a civil case.

The 30-year-old woman claims she was "visibly and obviously severely intoxicated" when she left a club in Bathgate and was offered a lift home in a taxi by the footballers.

The woman says they asked the driver to drop all three of them at a flat in nearby Armadale where she claims she was raped.

The action states: "At the time when sexual intercourse took place with each defender, the pursuer was incapable because of the effect of alcohol of giving free agreement."

It is also claimed neither of the men had "a reasonable belief" she was consenting.

Goodwillie accepts he had sex with the woman but maintains it was consensual. Robertson also said he had sex with the woman but also maintains it was consensual. Both deny the woman was incapable.

The woman claims she has suffered symptoms of depression, panic disorder, anxiety and eating disorder since the alleged incident, which have led to her leaving her job.