JIM: CLOSED DOORS GAMES MAY BE OUR ONLY OPTION
Gaffer says playing in empty stadiums is a last resort move
St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin would back playing the rest of the Premiership season behind closed doors – but only as a last resort.
Scottish football has been suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, a vote involving all 42 SPFL member clubs saw the Championship, League One and League Two tables called as they stood with immediate effect.
That decision could reach the top flight, if the remaining fixtures cannot be played or the newly formed reconstruction task force can’t come up a new format to be voted on – but UEFA would need to ratify the decision.
It emerged that league bosses are seeking urgent talks with the Scottish Government to see whether the season could resume with no fans in the stadiums.
This is something the Irishman admits wouldn’t be ideal, however, he accepts it may be the only way for the game to return for the foreseeable future.
Goodwin told Express Sport: “I think we’re a while away from having full stadiums again, so I don’t know what the process is going to be. They may initially start off behind closed doors and then start letting a few fans in but I really don’t know.
“Obviously, we don’t want to be playing behind closed doors if we can avoid it.
“But, at the same time, if we need to get back playing football and that’s the way to go about it initially, there’s nothing else you can do unfortunately.
“Games without supporters would be strange but if that’s what needs to happen, then we’ll go with it.”
The Saints gaffer has never been involved in a competitive behind closed doors game during his career.
After playing in many empty grounds in fitness or bounce matches over the years, he can resonate with the eerie silence as the ball is getting knocked around.
Goodwin reckons it would be a shock to every team in the league if that’s the way it has to be competitively.
He added: “I’ve had bounce games in big stadiums where there’s nobody in it. It’s difficult because there’s absolutely no atmosphere, it’s just like a training game, really.
“Of course, if we were to do that for a competitive match, then it would be really strange to everybody. I don’t think there would be anybody, in our game, that would ever be used to playing that kind of game.”
There has been a lot of controversy about the vote that saw the lower leagues end their campaigns early.
One area is whether league reconstruction is an option is being looked at by a task force, or whether teams at the bottom of the tables should be relegated with games still to be played.
If the latter was to happen in the Premiership, the Buddies would be safe in ninth place after beating bottom of the table Hearts last time out.
But Goodwin is adamant he and the club are raring to go again, regardless of when or how it comes about.
He added: “It is what it is. “Over 80 percent have voted in favour of it but we’ll just need to wait and see what happens.
“There are always going to be people not happy about whatever decision they take.
“In an ideal world we finish off the season and everything is finished properly.
“We’ll just need to wait and see what the final outcome is.
“As a club and as a manager, we’ll just do whatever is expected of us, and whatever is asked of us.”