Edinburgh a beacon for Foley to put him firmly on right road
JIM GOODWIN could steer St Mirren to a surprise top-six finish then a Scottish Cup Final with a tactical masterclass and Sam Foley would struggle to summon a compliment as sincere as he offers today.
In suggesting there is just a hint of the late Justin Edinburgh in the Saints boss’s approach to manmanagement, Foley pays Goodwin quite the accolade.
For throughout the 33-year-old’s English lower and non-league travels, spanning nine clubs, there is no one who Foley holds in greater esteem than Edinburgh.
Foley was devastated last June to learn of the former Tottenham hero’s death from a cardiac arrest at the age of 49.
There followed a chain reaction of emotions from the midfielder, who had benefited from Edinburgh’s guidance at Newport County then Northampton Town.
Pained by regret that he didn’t reach out more to his mentor following Edinburgh’s sacking from Sixfields in August 2017, Foley also rejected the chance to be reunited with him at Leyton Orient. Fittingly, League Two Orient named a stand in honour of their late manager.
By opting to move to St Mirren, however, Foley went on to inject his own career with fresh impetus in a new league.
The part Edinburgh played in the story of his moving him up the ranks and, therefore, on the path towards Scotland’s top flight won’t ever be forgotten.
‘Justin showed a faith in me that I probably didn’t have within myself as a young man,’ explained Foley. ‘I came into the game late. I was always playing catch-up, I didn’t make my league debut until 25.
‘He trusted me with quite a bit of responsibility when I was at Newport and, on the back of less than a year working with him, I got my move into the Football League. Honesty sometimes is the key. He just told me things straight. Being a people person, understanding which buttons to push — and which not to push on other people — is big.
‘Justin was a master of that. And I’m thankful for him. God rest his soul, I owe a lot to Justin. He had quite a profound impact on me.’
The managerial merry-go-round was a cruel carousel, spinning too quickly for Foley and Edinburgh in their second spell together.
Foley rejected a more lucrative contract with Port Vale to join Edinburgh at Northampton ahead of the 2017/18 League One campaign. However, only four games into the season, Foley was powerless to prevent Edinburgh from losing his job.
‘It didn’t end well for me and Justin there,’ lamented Foley. ‘Unfortunately, I got injured in a pre-season game. I’d had an operation on my ankle the year before, went innocuously into a challenge and rolled the same ankle. I didn’t actually kick a ball for him at Northampton before he was sacked.
‘It’s a source of regret that I couldn’t help him stay in the job. I wish I had kept in touch with him.
‘It was difficult, with him getting sacked, because you have a job to do and have to get on with it. He went on to Leyton Orient and did unbelievably well.’
Foley has arguably proved to be Goodwin’s most impressive piece of close-season business on a two-year deal. His veteran influence in midfield helped Saints, who host Aberdeen today, gradually inch away from the foot of the Premiership following a tough start to Goodwin’s reign.
He is in no doubt he took the correct turn north after reaching a career crossroads last summer. Foley explained: ‘When I made the decision to come to Scotland, I decided to throw myself fully into it and I’m happy I have.
‘I’ve been given a new lease of life. I have to pinch myself that I’ve got to this age. I’m just trying to make the most of every minute. I came up here a bit blind, not knowing what to expect. I just knew I wanted to come up and play.’