Goodwin ticks all the boxes for Tony. Now he wants him to sign on the line
St Mirren are ready to offer Jim Goodwin an extended deal to hold on to him.
The 39-year-old has hit all the targets since succeeding Oran Kearney 18 months ago. His initial remit was to keep the club up, which he did with a famous 1-0 win over Hearts in what proved to be the final game of last season. Having bedded himself in, Goodwin’s next goal was a first-ever top-six finish for the Buddies, and he’s on track to be there or thereabouts with that. This season the Saints have also eliminated Aberdeen and Rangers from the Betfred Cup, and won at Celtic Park for the first time in 31 years. Goodwin has never broken a contract as a player or a manager and, with his current one due to expire in 2022, the Saints board want him to keep that record intact by signing an extended deal. “That’s definitely something we’ll be taking into consideration,” said the Buddies’ chief executive, Tony Fitzpatrick.
“He still has a year and a bit to go on his current contract, but Jim knows we have longterm plans for him here. “He’s a St Mirren man, he’s steeped in the club and he’s enjoying his time in the job. There are big challenges ahead of him.
“Jim was also a trophywinning captain here and, more than anything, he’s a good, young manager, with great potential.” Goodwin’s success in Paisley has been welcome, but Fitzpatrick is aware that it hasn’t gone unnoticed. “We’ve lost good young managers in the past – Jack Ross being a prime example,” he said.
“Jim is ambitious, so his position is something that we’re always looking at. “But the manager is no different to our players, who can see the contracts on offer elsewhere.” However, it’s his ambition which makes which makes Saints so desperate to keep him where he is.
“Jim isn’t just the first-team manager. He takes an interest in every department of the club, including the youth development aspect, and that’s very important,” said Fitzpatrick.
“That was a key issue when we looked at the candidates after Oran left. The Academy here is part of our values and tradition, and that DNA won’t change. “I’ve been here for five years, and we give the kids an opportunity.
“John Mcginn, Stevie Mallan, Lewis Morgan, Kyle Magennis, Kyle Mcallister – who left for Derby County and then came back – there’s a long list. “They all went on to do well for themselves, but they also did well for us while they were here. “We have some great young players in the first team at the moment, like Ethan Erhahon and Cammy Macpherson, and Jim buys into that process. “We need that, but Jim knows the club inside out. “This is his first full-time post and he ticks all the boxes for us – even the way he presents himself.
“He’s a great ambassador for St Mirren and long may that continue.”