Jim Goodwin insists he’d love to see his former Buddies finally make their top-six dream come true.
But that won’t stop him using his inside knowledge of the St Mirren camp to try and steer his struggling Dundee United side to a crucial three points this afternoon.
Goodwin came agonisingly close to guiding the Saints to a top-half finish in 2021, when they missed out on goal difference alone to
St Johnstone.
And despite leaving the Paisley club for an underwhelming stint at Aberdeen, he’s hoping Stephen Robinson can finish the job this season with the Buddies currently sitting in sixth spot heading into today’s clash with the Terrors.
Goodwin said: “They are a group of players who have been together for a significant amount of time.
“I brought the majority of the squad in my time there and Stephen has come in and added his own bits of quality to that.
“He has added his own touches and taken them on to another level, which is extremely pleasing to see.
“I have great connections with St Mirren, a club who are very close to my heart.
“I am delighted to see them having a great season. I hope by the end of the season they get that top half finish they have been so desperately searching for.
“We came up short and finished seventh in my time there. Stephen has a team there that is full of momentum and playing well.
“We have a tough task on our hands, but I know the majority of that squad inside and out and we can come in with one or two plans to get the points we need.”
Goodwin has repeatedly stated in recent years that leading St Mirren to their maiden League Cup success back in 2013 was the best moment of his playing career,
And the former Saints skipper admits that fabled side probably celebrated a little too hard in the days after their Hampden heroics, which almost cost them their Premiership status come the end of that season.
Goodwin explained: “We were doing well in the league up to the final. There were a dozen or so league games left and you were lucky if we picked up six points because we were out, pretty much, for the remainder of the season.
“We just about avoided relegation, which was hard to believe. Danny Lennon was the manager at the time and he was flapping.
“Now with my manager’s hat on it wasn’t the most professional time in our lives. A lot of us weren’t used to winning things so we made the most of it.
“My medal is safe. It takes pride of place along with other international caps and other bits and bobs I have picked up.
“I had some good moments in my career and relative success at the lower level, making my debut for Celtic and my international debut with Ireland were proud moments, but in terms of my overall career that was probably the highlight - in winning a national trophy.
“It was 25 or 30 years before that when St Mirren had last won silverware. They had promotions from the Championship but in terms of a national trophy you had to go back to Tony Fitzpatrick’s time when they won the Scottish Cup.
“It was their first League Cup win. At the time you don’t realise how significant it is in terms of the history of the club. We are that bit older and are able to appreciate it a bit more.”
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