Jim Gillespie has more in common with Jim Goodwin than simply the same initials.
Both have an ambition to drive St Mirren as far as the club can go in the knowledge that if they get there, a parting of the ways will be inevitable.
Gillespie was appointed Saints’ vice-chairman this week, having been on the board since the Paisley-based Kibble charity – of which he’s chief executive – secured a significant shareholding in the club at the start of last year.
Gillespie sat in the stand at Hamilton last month when St Mirren conceded a mere four minutes from time, costing them a place in the top six by just two goals.
But there are significant plans afoot to give manager Goodwin the chance to go more than one step better
next season and beyond.
If successful, the vice-chairman knows his boss will be off to bigger things – and Gillespie hopes, eventually, that’s what happens for the 39-year-old former player.
He said: “I wanted to walk out the stadium when we lost that goal because I knew how much work had gone into the season.
“But we’ve come a long way from a relegation play-off with Dundee United two seasons ago and Jon Obika’s goal against Hearts that kept us up last year.”
Saints, he insists, have plans in place to make top-six football a regular occurrence.
He added: “This season we have invested differently in the squad. The partnership with Kibble, SMISA (fans trust) and the board gave us the chance to lay foundations.
“The takeover of fan ownership is due to take place in July this year and we’ve always had that in mind. But what we’ve managed to do is support the playing budget more this year, even though we’ve had difficulties with the pandemic.
“Our fans have been amazing. They’ve bought their season tickets and supported the club the way they’ve always done, which has given us financial stability and the relationship with Kibble augments that.
“Our ambition is not to be a club that finishes sixth. It’s to be a top-six club. There’s a difference.
“If you look at the fans St Mirren get when we get to cup finals and semi-finals, it’s a massive untapped potential. And if we can turn that into a reality, we’ll be a top-six team. The shareholder agreement that we are all committed to gives no dividends to anyone. Every bit of income we make is reinvested back into the club.
“Having the best academy in Scotland is our second ambition. There will be players leaving St Mirren but for the right fees – not for £200,000 or £100,000.
“Any money we make would be reinvested in the transfer market, bringing up the level again and establishing ourselves in the top six, which would attract more fans through the gate.”
Goodwin, he admits, is central to that ambition.
Even if the vice-chairman knows the manager will move on at some point. Gillespie added: “Where Jim is in his career and where we are is a good match.
“We can give Jim what he wants to progress us as a club and him as a manager.
“But what is key is this, I want Jim to move on. I want a Rangers or Celtic, an English Premier League team, to come in and tell us they want our manager. That tells us we’ve been really successful.
“He’s not a one-man band. He needs us to support him and if we do that, his ability and potential flourishes.
“I want someone to phone me one day and say, ‘Jim, what’s the buy-out clause for Jim Goodwin because we want him’.
“That also would tell any potentially good manager that St Mirren is a place to either start his career or rebuild his career.
“It’s important we recognise Jim is good with great potential and if we can help fulfil that, we’ll get the best of him and help him fulfil his dream of moving on to bigger things.”
