Goodwin certain Dundee will back under-fire McPake
JIM GOODWIN has been in James McPake’s shoes. A young manager, new to Premiership football and having to learn quickly.
Goodwin benefited from the support of the St Mirren board. And he is convinced Dundee will show the very same faith in McPake as he continues his own adaptation to top-flight leadership.
The Dens Park side arrive in Paisley this afternoon still reeling from a 5-0 home hammering by Ross County on Wednesday night.
With players and management on the receiving end of a furious reaction from their fans, it was a huge blow after they had creditably taken four points from preceding matches against Aberdeen and Hearts.
Goodwin knows McPake will be determined to draw an immediate reaction from his squad, but the 39-year-old also feels a longer-term view is essential when determining the merits of an up-and-coming coach.
‘Unfortunately in society nowadays people just want instant success,’ said Goodwin. ‘You see it a lot over the years — a manager loses three or four on the spin and they’re under pressure and they lose their job.
‘The next guy coming in has to work with the same group of players and get a different tune out of them.
‘But I think James will be fine. He’s a very good young manager who’s very capable.
‘He’s had some good performances. I think, similar to ourselves at the beginning of the season, and even Ross County, sometimes the result doesn’t always show an accurate reflection on the overall performance.
‘I think Dundee have had a number of games like that. There’s no getting away from Wednesday night — it was a poor performance and it’s very hard to dress that up any other way. But I think James was very honest in his assessment after the game.
‘I know how highly they regard James at Dundee. John Nelms, the managing director, will be having constant dialogue with James and giving him the reassurance you need as a young manager.’
Goodwin was grateful for assurances from Saints during a sticky patch last season, but also recalled the essential support of Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney during his first job in management.
‘He was a breath of fresh air to work with,’ said Goodwin of Mulraney. ‘We got promoted from League One into the Championship. We were the only part-time team in the league, everybody’s stick-on favourites to get relegated.
‘But before a ball was kicked, Mr Mulraney pulled me into the office and said regardless of what happened that season, whether we didn’t win a game or if we finished rock bottom, you’ll still be my manager next year.
‘That gave me such confidence. I could relax and not be uptight and tense. I think John Nelms will be having similar conversations with James McPake at the moment.
‘I don’t think there’s a sacking culture at Dundee. James has been there a wee while. I’m glad to see teams giving young managers time.
‘I had a similar situation last year where results weren’t going great and we had all the Covid issues.
‘But because I’ve got such a supportive board of directors here, they could see the bigger picture.
‘They knew the hard work we were doing behind the scenes and they stuck with me and allowed me to give the team and the club their highest finish ever in a number of years and reach two semi-finals.
‘It would have been very easy to replace me but they stuck with me and I think Dundee will do the same with James.’
Goodwin will still be without the injured Jamie McGrath for today’s match but, after a run of just one loss in eight games, is delighted with his overall options.
‘I think this squad is as strong a squad as St Mirren have ever had in the Premier League — the strength in depth,’ he said.
‘Wednesday night (against Motherwell) was a perfect example. We lose mainstays, if you like — Jamie McGrath dropping out, Ethan Erhahon with a hamstring issue — and the boys who came in slotted in perfectly and did the job asked of them. It didn’t weaken the team at all.’
Goodwin also welcomed progress on bringing VAR to Scottish football and would like to see it in place for the start of next season.
Sportsmail this week revealed a vote on the system’s introduction is set to take place by February, although it could be December before the technology is actually in use.
‘Referees in all countries need support and the best assistance they can get,’ said Goodwin.
‘Bringing in VAR takes out a lot of grey areas. There won’t be as many wrong decisions as what we’ve seen in years gone by.
‘Listen, I support the officials here. They make decisions based on what they see at the time.
‘When you have the benefit of watching back from different angles, nine times out of ten I think we’ll get the right decision.
‘That’s all we can ask for. Hopefully, the powers that be can find a way to bring it in for the start of next season.’