Jim Goodwin: Dundee United appoint ex-Aberdeen manager to replace Liam Fox
Dundee United have appointed Jim Goodwin as their new manager a month after he was sacked by Aberdeen; Liam Fox was dismissed following United's 4-0 defeat to Ross County; they sit four points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership
Thursday 2 March 2023 21:34, UK
Jim Goodwin has been appointed Dundee United's new manager until the end of the season, just one month after he was sacked by Aberdeen.
The 41-year-old replaces Liam Fox at Tannadice after he was sacked following their 4-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Ross County.
United are four points adrift at the bottom of the table, albeit with a game in hand, but are without a league win since January 2.
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Goodwin becomes the club's third manager of the season after Jack Ross was dismissed in the wake of their 9-0 humiliation at home to Celtic last August.
His first game in charge this weekend will be against the Dons, who fired him at the end of January after a Scottish Cup exit to sixth-tier Darvel was followed by a 6-0 Scottish Premiership defeat at Hibernian.
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He told Sky Sports News: "Some people think I'm off my head and should have stayed in the house and waited until the summer to see what other options came up, but for me I think it's a gamble worth taking.
"There are 12 games left until the end of the season and I think there's enough time for us to get confidence back into the group and get the points required to stay in the league.
"I don't want to dwell too much on what has happened in the past, in the previous fixtures, it's all about the next 12 games for me. It's a very short-term project and the objective quite clearly is to get the points required to make sure Dundee United are a Premiership team next season.
"I was extremely disappointed with how things ended up at Aberdeen. Twelve months ago I was the proudest man in the world to be given the opportunity to manage such a great club.
"Prior to the World Cup break we were sitting third in the table, with a semi-final to look forward to in the new year, unfortunately that five-week break took the steam out of us.
"We just came back a completely different team, a shadow of ourselves. Confidence was rocked and we couldn't turn things around.
"This Dundee United opportunity gives me the chance as well to make amends. I talk about the players here having a chance to make amends, it's an opportunity for me as a young manager to make amends too and to show to people that what happened in that last week at Aberdeen was a blip."
Chairman Mark Ogren added: "Alongside the other board members, Scott Ogren and Jimmy Fyffe, I wholeheartedly have confidence that Jim is the man to take us into this vital part of the season.
"As soon as we spoke, I sensed his desire and hunger to succeed for the benefit of Dundee United. His knowledge of the league and the opposition was an important factor, and he really impressed the board with his passion for the challenge we face.
"As a club, I would ask everyone of a tangerine persuasion, unite behind his leadership of the squad as we look to end the season positively."
Dundee United's next five fixtures
- Aberdeen (h) - March 4 (6pm)
- Livingston (a) - March 8 (7.45pm)
- St Mirren (h) - March 18 (3pm)
- Rangers (a) - April 1 (3pm)
- Hibernian (h) - April 9 (12pm) - live on Sky Sports
Walker: Club must restore some trust
Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker believes Dundee United need to win their fans back after a tumultuous season:
"You look at what happened at Motherwell, they got rid of Steven Hammell and they immediately got a new manager bounce with Stuart Kettlewell and I think Dundee United are looking for something similar.
"They really need to get back to building some trust with their supporters that has been lost for a large part of the season.
"United need a positive effect, some of their football has been awful, some of the goals they have lost have been really embarrassing.
"A new manager coming in, a new approach and direction, maybe a little change or two and I wouldn't rule out Dundee United surviving, it would just take one or two victories for them to get back into that little pack above them.
"I don't think they're quite down and out yet, but they need to show a level of commitment and a fighting spirit that the fans are desperate to see."
'A lot of fixing' needed
Just days after Fox's departure, Dundee United announced on Tuesday that sporting director Tony Asghar had also left following protests from fans towards him and owner Mark Orgen.
Former Dundee United defender Mark Wilson believes the club face a huge job to resolve issues off the field too.
He told Sky Sports News: "Things certainly aren't right with Dundee United from top to bottom. It was only last week at the AGM, the owner came across from America and put out some points that the fans didn't agree with and gathered outside the ground.
"That makes it a difficult environment to work in and if results don't match what the fans expect then, ultimately, it ends in one way and that's the manager going.
"I do feel for Liam Fox but I do feel that when Dundee United look at the changes certain clubs have made they'll have regrets. Ross County made signings in the January window and it's shown, Motherwell have changed their manager and it's shown.
"Dundee United have to do something if they're to survive this season.
"It's going to take a lot of fixing to get Dundee United right, but if you get the right manager in place with 12 games to go you've got every chance of surviving then take it from there in the summer."
Confirmed Scottish Premiership fixtures live on Sky Sports
Sunday March 5: St Mirren vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm
Saturday March 18: Motherwell vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm
Sunday April 2: Ross County vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm
Saturday April 8: Celtic vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm
Sunday April 9: Dundee United vs Hibernian, kick-off 12pm
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