Lennon is hopeful Buddies board will give Goodwin time
DANNY LENNON has called for the St Mirren hierarchy to strike a realistic tone to give Jim Goodwin breathing space to bed in yet another new era in Paisley.
Goodwin has signed a three-year contract to replace Oran Kearney and become Saints’ eighth manager since Lennon was let go in May 2014.
That decision was followed by the disastrous Tommy Craig reign, which saw two players, Gary Teale and Goodwin, appointed to his backroom team and ultimately led to relegation.
Goodwin’s coaching career recovered impressively in three seasons at Alloa, which culminated in him keeping the part-timers in the Championship and made him an automatic pick for a Saints return.
Clyde boss Lennon was delighted to see his former skipper land the job. But on his first managerial mission in the Premiership, he wants to see Goodwin benefit from having sensible targets established. Chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick has previously claimed the Buddies should aim for top-four or top-six finishes.
Lennon said: ‘I think the St Mirren board have got to know what their expectations are.
‘For me, in terms of where they’ve been and where they’ve come from, success for them at this moment is dining at the top table. Oran Kearney did that for them.
‘Jim, of course, will have ambitions. But there doesn’t have to be disappointment at not challenging for the top six. If you’re spending lots then it could be seen as disappointing.
‘The chairman Gordon Scott and the board and fans will work hard to make sure Jim gets the best budget available.
‘He’s gone to Alloa and shown he can work under a smaller budget compared to the rest of the division and survive. So this is the opportunity he deserves.
‘I’m delighted he’s made it back to St Mirren as manager. I think it’s a good appointment. He’s clearly a highlyregarded young manager and I know the supporters will welcome him.’
Kearney, a September appointment when Alan Stubbs was sacked after just four league games, kept the club in the top flight via the play-offs.
However, disagreements with Scott contributed to his departure a month after beating Dundee United on penalties.
‘They’ve got to get a bit of stability in there now,’ warned Lennon. ‘There’s been big changes in the directors and no manager has been there longer than Jack Ross, who did such a good job for 18 months.
‘Jim Goodwin knows the club inside out, which is a help towards that. He spread his wings, had good success at Alloa.
‘He was an exceptional leader for me at St Mirren. Highly competitive, very motivated and an honest man.’