Charlie Mulgrew has described Jim Goodwin as “a shining light” amid Dundee United’s impending relegation to the Championship.
Mulgrew has spoken of the “devastation” within the dressing room after the Tangerines succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Kilmarnock, effectively ending their three-year stay in the Premiership.
A United victory against Motherwell, a Killie triumph over Ross County and an EIGHT-goal swing would be required on Sunday to salvage their top-flight status.
Goodwin was appointed on March 1 with United four points adrift at the foot of the table and, despite overseeing an initial upturn in fortunes — including a three-game winning streak — their post-split form has been woeful.
Nevertheless, Mulgrew has backed the boss to stay at United beyond the summer expiry of his deal, particularly in light of a campaign that saw three different managers occupy the dugout.
Not done a poll in ages. Now is as good a time as any.
Jim Goodwin wants to stay (https://t.co/sKeIMoA3uI). So, Dundee United Twitter, what says you?
Genuinely curious as there are some right varied takes
— Alan Temple (@alanftemple) May 25, 2023
“The manager has been great since coming in and we feel like we’ve let him down,” Mulgrew told Courier Sport.
“I really think the club could benefit from keeping the manager here.
“He has been a real positive, shining light in the club at the moment. It would be great for whoever is still here next year, if he is in the job.
“That stability would be vital but that’s ultimately up to the club and the manager. As players, we just need to pick ourselves up.”
Responsibility
However, Mulgrew acknowledges that recovering from this hammer-blow will be no easy feat.
United’s reverse against Killie was littered with the same defensive calamities that characterised the prior three fixtures — and the majority of a lamentable season, barring a couple of false dawns along the way.
“The feeling is devastation,” he continued. “You look at yourself first, and it just hasn’t been good enough. I take a big part of the responsibility and it’ll hurt for a while.
“Things happened on Wednesday that have happened a lot this season; poor goals to give away. When you start that, especially when confidence is low, it gives the opposition a lift and it’s hard to get back into it.
▶️ Dundee United are on the brink of relegation after defeat to Kilmarnock 🔽 pic.twitter.com/z9dadpdNWp
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 25, 2023
“We started to get back into the game — passing the ball, looking more of a threat — and then the second one? You can’t legislate for another mistake. It’s a real uphill task from there.
“But it’s not just about midweek. It’s been over the course of the whole season. We’ve not kept the ball out of the net and not scored enough goals.”
“We do care”
Asked if he had a message for angry Arabs who are questioning the desire of the squad, particularly given the meek surrender against Killie, Mulgrew responded: “We definitely care.
“We all came to this club to make it successful and, for one reason or another, it hasn’t gelled.
“We’ve let ourselves down and we’ve let the fans down. That really hurts. Any flak that comes our way is deserved.”
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