JIM GOODWIN insists there is no bad feeling between him and St Mirren boss Alex Rae as he looks for a new club.

The 34-year-old midfielder was not offered a new contract by the Paisley club after he failed to make an impact under the Buddies boss since returning from injury.

In a spell that spanned five years, the Irishman over 170 games in black and white, with the highlight coming back in 2013 when the Saints lifted the League Cup for the first time in their history.

Sadly, it has been a frustrating final campaign for Goodwin. Due to being sidelined and the form of others in front of him, he only managed five appearances since the turn of the year.

However, despite that lack of game time under Rae, the St Mirren fans’ favourite is content with how his time with the Buddies came to an end. 
Goodwin said: “I got on great with Alex. I was disappointed not to play more games but there were no personal issues.

“I knew Alex before he took over but I was injured when he came in and I think that was a big problem.

“He brought Rocco Quinn down from Ross County and he did great. When I was back fit, the team were doing well.

“He never really had the chance to throw me in I suppose but he is a great guy and I got on well with him and Davie Farrell.

“It’s disappointing because if I had been fit when he took over, I think I would have been his type.

“But that’s football. I was at St Mirren for five and a half years and maybe Alex just wants to freshen things up.”

Known for his combative style, it is little surprise Goodwin is not ready to bow out of his playing career just yet.

The former Hamilton Accies man has several options both in Scotland and further afield, and has given himself until the end of the month to decide what the best move is for him and his family.

“I’ve had one or two offers from clubs in Scotland but I’ve told them that I wanted to wait until the play-offs were done and dusted and other teams know what their budgets will be and what league they are in,” he said.

“Come the end of May. I will have to give these teams a decision.
“I would love to stay in Scotland. My family is settled here, the kids are at school and ideally that’s what will happen.

“But I am very open minded. I spent eight years in England prior to coming back up the road and I would look abroad too.

“I had an offer in January to go to a team in California. The timing wasn’t right, I was injured and it wouldn’t have worked it.

“But I am open minded about going abroad. You have to go where the work is in this game.”

Goodwin’s time in Paisley may be over, but it will not break the bond that was forged between him and a club through some euphoric highs and painful lows.
“I will always have a lot of affection for the club,” he said.

“I didn’t leave my previous clubs, Stockport, Scunthorpe and Huddersfield. with the same emotion and feeling.

“What made it even more special was winning the League Cup in 2013. 
“I have great memories to look back on and the supporters always stood by me, which was great.”