The best is yet to come from Jim
Goodwin’s making his mark, insists Fitzpatrick
Tony Fitzpatrick says St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin has quickly put his stamp on the Paisley side.
Saints moved to bring in the former Alloa manager at the start of the season, replacing Oran Kearney after he retained the club’s top flight status.
And the Buddies chief executive reckons the former 2013 League Cup winning skipper can only improve as he goes.
“I think he’s done well,” said Fitzy. “He’s come in and changed things about in his own way.
“I think by the point we stopped playing, you could see it was his own team.
“He’s changed so many players and the club backed him with that.
“I think so far, so good with Jim, if I’m being honest.
“Our policy has been looking at young, hungry, up-and -coming managers.
“That’s no disrespect to the older generation but I think for a club like us, our policy has been to give young managers a chance, like we’ve given young players a chance.
“We did stick with our convictions and gave Jim the chance, and he’s got great potential.”
Fitzpatrick, below, says the progression on the park comes at time where the club is also gearing up to make strides off it too.
Jack Ross managed to win the Buddies promotion to the Premiership in 2018 at a time when no one expected him to after steering the club away from relegation the year before.
And Fitzpatrick says the new Kibble partnership will be crucial as the fan ownership of the club draws ever closer.
He added: “Very much so. I’m really pleased, I think it is gradual progression and it is good progression.
“When you think where we are, we had a five to seven- year plan when I came in, and Jack Ross took us into the Premiership quicker than any of us could have imagined, and I think we all got caught up in that.
“I think we’re pleased where the club is at the moment and when you look at the plan, it’s not just the team, it’s the club.
“There’s another big thing that’s happened with Kibble.
“Fan ownership is going to be a big thing and it’s coming nearer and nearer.
“We needed a real commercial partner and that’s something we looked at as well.
“But I think that when we are talking about the team, it’s a good progression where we’ve finished.”