We’d be racing the clock to get back in the game
Quick finish to season would be a challenge, says Buddies boss Goodwin
CARLA TALBOT
Saints gaffer Jim Goodwin fears the challenge to get players match fit just now would be too much if league bosses decided to finish the season.
Premiership teams are still in limbo as no official decision has been made to scrap the remainder of the season like lower leagues have done.
A previous vote saw the Championship, League One and League Two tables called as they were, but controversy surrounds the Premiership vote which has still to be decided.
And the St Mirren boss says he would be concerned about how it would play out for his squad if they had to return to their playing fitness level sooner rather than later.
Goodwin said he would have “no concerns” about training his players if the season was to start again later this year as planned.
He has already said ending the season as it stands is “the only logical thing to do”.
Speaking to Express Sport, he said: “We don’t know what is going to happen just now in terms of the league and if this becomes the closed season then there is really no concern for us at all.
“We would just begin training as normal and prepare for the season how we would in normal circumstances.
“But if we were told next week that we had to get everyone ready to play and finish off the matches then that would be a different story.”
All of the St Mirren players and a number of staff are currently furloughed due to coronavirus halting the football season and starving clubs of much-needed matchday funds.
This means they are not allowed to carry out any work for the club - including keeping up official training regimes under the guidance of Goodwin.
But the Saints boss has faith that his men are keeping themselves active while they are unable to play.
He added: “It’s a difficult time for the players as they are waiting to find out what they are going to have to be doing, if anything.
“They are on furlough just now so they are not officially training.
“But they are all a fit bunch of guys and they are all professionals so there is nothing stopping them from keeping themselves active while they are at home.”
But while he has not been able to keep his squad in training, the Irishman says he has remained in contact with them to keep everyone’s spirits high while the future is uncertain.
Goodwin added: “I have been sending out messages to check in with the guys.
“I’m in constant contact with them to make sure they are all doing okay while we are waiting to find out what is going on.”
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