St Mirren season preview: Jim Goodwin’s popularity will buy him time

Jim Goodwin could hardly have asked for a more difficult start to his career as a top-flight boss.

The Buddies’ inability to nail down the future of previous boss, Oran Kearney, left everyone at the club in limbo.

Results have been poor during the Betfred Cup group stage, and Goodwin has admitted he needs to bring in several fresh faces.

He did a fine job at part-time Alloa, where survival was the aim. But they’re looking for a lot more in Paisley.

As a former player, the Irishman is a popular figure at the club and that should give him an extended honeymoon period with the supporters.

TRANSFERS

In: Oan Djorkaeff, Tony Andreu, Dean Lyness.

Out: Anton Ferdinand, Adam Eckersley, Simeon Jackson, Josh Heaton.

It looks like the Saints will be working on beefing up their squad right until the transfer window closes.

Much of last season’s revival – which ultimately saw the Buddies avoid the drop in the play-off against Dundee United – was built on loan players who have now departed.

Many of them seemed to form a strong bond with the club, and showed they were prepared to battle for survival.

It was something that gave them an edge on the lacklustre loanees used by Dundee, and another crop of battlers will be needed this time round.

Jim Goodwin is also looking for a goalscorer – but most managers are.

TARGET

Those running St Mirren believe that Jim Goodwin should be targeting a top-six finish this season.

It would be nothing short of miraculous if he could achieve that.

Now and again, a club makes a dramatic leap from relegation strugglers to European contenders.

Mostly, the best clubs can hope for is a slow, steady climb up the table.

The Buddies might uncover some gems in the transfer market and emerge with a new, dynamic team.

They might also find a little more consistency under Jim Goodwin and avoid being isolated in the bottom-two places.

The latter is surely the more realistic expectation.