Saints boss in rant at the SPFL over their keeper chaos
“The laughing stock of world football”.
That’s what St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin felt that the SPFL would have become had his side been forced to play an outfield player in goal against Hibernian yesterday.
The Saints had wanted the match called off after three of their goalkeepers – Jak Alnwick, Dean Lyness and Peter Urminsky – were ruled out because of Covid-19 regulations.
The authorities, however, insisted the game had to go ahead
Goodwin was able to bring in Bobby Zlamal on the morning of the game on an emergency loan from Hearts, but the Paisley club still went down 3-0, much to Goodwin’s fury.
He said: “I was flabbergasted at the decision. It was a ridiculous situation we found ourselves in on Friday.
“I don’t think any of us expected to be forced to play the game.
“We felt that given the fact we had no recognised goalkeeper available registered at the club the authorities would have seen sense.
“We felt they would have shown some compassion to our situation.
“That wasn’t the case and we were told the game would have to go ahead.
“The whole situation has been a disaster.
“Our argument to the league was that we, as a country, are trying to publicise the game in a positive light.
“We would have been the laughing stock of world football if we had a Premiership team putting an outfield player in goals for a competitive game.
“It’s just beggars belief the powersthat-be couldn’t see it that way.”