Jim Goodwin's view on Huddersfield Town's squad, manager and fans

Sep 10 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

JIM GOODWIN will be fully focused on Hamilton Academical’s high-profile Scottish Premier League clash with Rangers tomorrow lunchtime.

But after the final whistle goes at New Douglas Park, he’ll be checking up on Town’s progress down at Leyton Orient.

The 28-year-old midfielder capped a busy seven days when he signed a short-term deal at Hamilton earlier this week.

As fellow Irishman Alan Lee arrived at the Galpharm from Crystal Palace, Goodwin was negotiating the termination of a contract which began in the close-season of 2008, when he was signed by Stan Ternent, and ran until next summer.

That was achieved on transfer deadline day, making the former Scunthorpe man, who played 47 times for Town, a free agent and so able to agree a new deal outside the window.

He has signed for Hamilton until January, providing a return to Scotland after he began his career at Celtic.

“I left Celtic for Stockport in 2002, so it’s a while since I’ve been involved in the game up here,” said the Waterford-born Republic international who spent time on loan to Oldham last season.

“It’s initially a short-term arrangement to allow us to have a look at each other, but it’s with a view to making things more permanent.

“The training sessions so far have been enjoyable, and I’m hoping to get my chance against Rangers, which is a really big game for us and one which is live on ESPN.

“My main aim is to get some regular football, which at the stage I’m at in my career is what I need, but I must admit I left Huddersfield with a heavy heart.

“There are no hard feelings at all. I really believe the club is on the verge of achieving something big and I’d love to see them achieve promotion and make their mark on the Championship.”

Goodwin, who won promotion from League I with Scunthorpe in 2007, added: “Lee Clark has always been open and honest with me, and I really rate him as a manager.

“He has a good backroom staff around him and an equally ambitious chairman in Dean Hoyle and he has assembled a strong squad, so there’s no reason why Town can’t succeed.

“I’d also like to pass on thanks to the Town fans, because they’ve always been brilliant with me. It would be great to see their loyalty rewarded.”

The chief objective for Goodwin’s new boss, Billy Reid, is to maintain Hamilton as a competitive club in the Scottish top flight.