IT’D BE A BIG DEAL IF WE KEPT JAMIE
Goodwin is not giving up hope of holding onto Irish midfielder after club’s record contract offer
Jim Goodwin is adamant the Buddies haven’t given up hope of holding onto key playmaker Jamie McGrath after making the Republic of Ireland international a club record contract offer.
The St Mirren midfielder earned his fifth cap for his country in their 4-0 win over Qatar on Tuesday night, earning even more plaudits and likely drawing even more admiring glances from prospective suitors.
With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Saints are bracing themselves for even more interest in last season’s top goalscorer.
And while Goodwin admits the odds are stacked against the Paisley side hanging onto the talented 25-year-old, he’s not given up hope just yet of hanging onto the man he brought to the club from Dundalk.
Goodwin (below) said: “We’re all extremely proud of what Jamie has achieved in the last 18 months.
“I watched the first hour of the Ireland game against Qatar and Jamie was excellent again. We’re delighted for him.
“He was taken down for the penalty and I said to him this morning I was disappointed he handed the ball over so easily because I’d have loved to have seen him step up and take that. I’ve no doubt he’d have put it into the back of the net.
“I did stress to Jamie over the summer not to be disappointed about that the moves didn’t happen because it might be a blessing in disguise.
“No disrespect to the clubs involved in the summer, but I believe, come January, there’ll probably be another six or seven really big clubs interested. That’s credit to Jamie.
“The kind of character he is. He could have thrown his toys out the pram when the deal wasn’t allowed to happen but he’s got on with things. He’s shown he’s willing to give his all for our jersey while he’s here.
“We’ve made an incredible offer to Jamie, we need to make that clear. We’ve made him an
offer we’ve never made a player in the history of the club.
“But we’re not stupid. We know he’s going to have numerous other offers and no doubt someone might come in and blow us out of the water.
“We want Jamie to know exactly what we think of him and reward him with a great contract. Whether he takes it or not, it’s up to him but our supporters need to know we’re not giving up hope just yet.”
Goodwin believes McGrath’s international call-up’s while a St Mirren player are hugely significant in terms of the club’s recruitment going forward.
He also insists the Irishman’s work ethic can help the club’s other young international hopefuls continue on the right path, with Ethan Erhahon and Dylan Reid both involved in the Scotland under-21 and under-17 sides respectively recently.
Goodwin said: “It makes