Goodwin follows in Fitzpatrick’s footsteps with seventh finish

When Jim Goodwin learned that Ross County had beaten Motherwell at full-time on Sunday, his eruption of joy was plain to see from the stands.

Having narrowly missed out on two cup final appearances and the top six on goal difference alone, you could understand why achieving his target of being best of the rest meant so much.

The other person in the ground seen punching the air as the Staggies’result trickled through was chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick.

He was the last manager to lead his beloved Buddies to seventh spot in the top flight back in 1989.

Now in charge of the club’s budget, along with the board, he knew the significance of finishing best of the rest when it comes to the prize money being doled out.

In a season where club finances have been hit harder than it ever has with fans locked out all season, that extra revenue will go a big way to determining what kind of players Goodwin and the club can go out and try to sign in the close season.

Along with two cup trips to Hampden that weren’t budgeted for, the Saints are now in a much healthier financial state than they could have been had the season not been as successful as it has been on the pitch.

Goodwin deserves a huge amount of credit for the job he’s managed to pull off this season, with coronavirus making it an absolute test on and off the park.

From the Hibs debacle when the club didn’t know if they had a goalkeeper or not before kick-off, to travelling to away games with just 13 senior players available, the gaffer has faced a huge challenge to keep his squad fit, motivated and driven for success.

That’s what makes the club’s achievements this season even more remarkable.

Even on Sunday, while the majority of Scottish football fans believed the big games of the day were at Fir Park and New Douglas Park,Goodwin was able to rally his troops for one last push.

At the end of a gruelling season, the Buddies headed into the United clash having played twice in the previous six days - the first being a sapping Scottish Cup semi-final clash with St Johnstone.

Still, St Mirren weren’t to be denied and they put in yet another highpressing, dogged performance that earned them a well-deserved point.

In the end, that proved to be enough to see the Saints slide above Motherwell and finish best of the rest - just as Goodwin targeted in the immediate aftermath of missing out on the top six.

If any manager and group of players deserved to end this season on a high note, and achieve something that hadn’t been managed by the club for more than 30 years, it was this team.

With Fitzpatrick and Goodwin in charge, the future’s bright for the Buddies.