Goodwin won’t shirk challenges of the ‘best paid hobby in the world’
WHEN Dundee United reached out to Jim Goodwin to try to save their Premiership skins, they knew they were hiring both a fire-fighter and a firebrand, a competitor with experience of dealing with the pressures of a relegation fight.
Yet they were also bringing on board a man of perspective — and not just on account of his recent chastening experience at Aberdeen.
As he took on the role of part-time player at Alloa back in 2016, Goodwin spent his days occupying a number of positions from an admin job with a car-leasing firm to clocking up miles as a chocolate bar salesman.
As such, the 41-year-old can relate to how lucky he is — and what is at stake for the many ancillary staff at Tannadice, fearful about the impacts of relegation.
‘I am enjoying it here, absolutely. Listen, I have worked in the real world, so I know what that entails,’ he says. ‘This, for me, is the best paid hobby in the world.
‘I love coming here to St Andrews and these great facilities.’
As Goodwin squints in the sunshine of the Easter bank holiday weekend, his voice takes on a more sombre tone.
‘This is a really well-run club with so many people pulling in the right direction, trying to make sure all the players need to think about is their training and their match day,’ he says. ‘So the players feel a real sense of responsibility to them, too, because we know the impact of what relegation could mean.
‘We are not just fighting for our own careers and personal pride, there is a hell of a lot more going on.
‘Does that add to the pressure? Possibly. But there are enough strong characters in there to handle that.’
If it’s apparent why United might seek out the Dubliner for the run-in, it’s maybe less clear why he would want to subject himself to another spell in the heat so soon after being burned at Aberdeen.
Goodwin lasted just 11 months at Pittodrie before being sacked immediately after a 6-0 defeat at Hibs, a few days after the humiliation of that Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Darvel.
At Pittodrie, as at St Mirren and Alloa before, Goodwin’s remit was to focus on a project and stimulate long-term growth.
At Tannadice, in charge of a team rock-bottom of the league table, there is only one goal and, after four games, he desperately craves his first win.
‘Yeah, it’s a short-term objective. Simple as that. It’s about trying to get a bounce and a reaction out of the players.’ he admits.
‘The players have been extremely positive since we’ve came in. There is plenty to be optimistic about. An outsider looking in would say that is a silly thing to say but, within the ranks, we have belief that we can turn it around.
‘I see that in training. I don’t see a group of players feeling sorry for themselves. I see a group of people who really want to make a difference and ensure this club remains a Premiership team for next season.’
Signed up until the end of the season, Goodwin is essentially fighting for his own future, if not subjecting his already damaged reputation to real danger.
Yet, he lives for the fray. If the image of him crossing the Easter Road turf with his kitbag had a whiff of humiliation, he was never likely to sulk for long.
He’s inherited an uneven squad at United, not short of quality but perhaps lacking muscle in midfield and pace all over the park.
Injury has robbed the manager of the gifted Dylan Levitt from midfield, while Glenn Middleton and the cursed Peter Pawlett are again missing from today’s match squad to host Hibs.
The one commodity they do have in abundance is experience, with players like Steven Fletcher and Australia’s World Cup stand-out Aziz Behich absolutely crucial to the prospects of harvesting enough points over the next eight games.
Goodwin added: ‘I have been there as a player, down at the bottom of the table fighting a relegation battle — it’s a real test of character. We have some great characters and leaders in the group, plenty of experience, too, for the younger ones to draw on.
‘We have to continue to fight and believe that we can turn it around.
We are five points behind Ross County and our aim is how can we draw them in? If we can do that, how can we then get closer to Kilmarnock?
‘Before I came in, people on the outside had written off Dundee United. They then thought I was off my head to come in and take on the job. I still believe there’s a possibility of us turning it around. Otherwise what’s the point?
‘There are teams who have been in this situation in the past. I can think to Hamilton many years ago, bottom going into the split and I think they won four out of five games. Anything can happen once the split comes.’
For midfielder Kieran Freeman, a season listening to the instructions of three different managers has hardly been ideal.
He understands the thought process that saw the club dispense with first Jack Ross then Liam Fox and is even clearer on what Goodwin expects of his players.
‘It has been hard this season. Everyone has been affected,’ says the 22-year-old. ‘But heads can’t go down now. Dundee United shouldn’t be in the Championship. If we are, it ultimately results in people losing their jobs.
‘The players feel a responsibility because it is us on the pitch — the staff can’t get wins for us.
‘The manager wants more bodies forward as we need to score more goals.
‘It takes a lot of courage to play like that but quite frankly we aren’t going to get out of the situation we are in by hiding in our shells and just letting the game pass us by.
‘We’ve probably done that too much this season. Now is the time to show what we are made of.’
I have been down there as a player — and it’s a real test of character