Dundee United appoint Jim Goodwin as manager on short-term contract

Dundee United have confirmed the appointment of Jim Goodwin as manager on a short-term contract.

Goodwin has signed a deal until the end of the season and has been tasked with lifting the Tannadice side off the foot of the Premiership table and steering the team clear of relegation in the remaining 12 games.

The former Aberdeen boss is back in management just five weeks after being sacked by the Pittodrie club following a poor run of results that culminated in a humiliating Scottish Cup defeat to non-league side Darvel and a 6-0 loss to Hibernian.

Goodwin, who began his managerial career at Alloa Athletic before two-and-a-half years at St Mirren, had been at Pittodrie for just over a year.

He now succeeds Liam Fox in the dugout at Tannadice after he left United following their 4-0 defeat to Ross County on Saturday.

“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to manage this fabulous club which has a rich history and a passionate fanbase,” Goodwin said.

“I recognise the job at hand – the sole aim for the remainder of the season is to maintain our Premiership status.

“I realise it is a huge task but I wouldn’t have taken the job on if I didn’t believe in the players, staff and my own abilities to be successful here.

“I’m incredibly excited to get started on my journey with Dundee United.”

Chairman and owner Mark Ogren said: “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.”

Chief executive Luigi Capuano underlined the small number of games Goodwin has to save United from the drop.

“I am really pleased to welcome Jim to Dundee United as manager,” he said.

“The conversations with Jim have been very positive, and I look forward to working with him for the remainder of this season.

“Everyone connected with the club has worked extremely hard to return Dundee United to the Premiership and we now have 12 matches remaining to ensure that is still the case come the end of the season.”

United are four points behind tenth-placed Ross County and 11th -placed Kilmarnock but have a game in hand on both.

The team’s next match is against Goodwin’s former club Aberdeen on Saturday.