Goodwin Disciplined By St Mirren

Photo by Jeff Holmes St Mirren have taken disciplinary action against Jim Goodwin after accepting a three-match ban for their player/coach. Goodwin will serve his second suspension of the season after elbowing Dundee United forward Aidan Connolly on Saturday. A club statement read: "The board met with Jim Goodwin today. Jim and the club have accepted the offer of a fixed penalty from the Scottish FA. "The club are disappointed in Jim's conduct given that this is not the first time he has been guilty of an offence of this nature. The club have taken internal disciplinary action, which the player has accepted. "Neither the club nor the player will be making any further comment on this matter." Goodwin was charged with violent conduct by SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan after television pictures showed the Irishman thrusting his arm into Connolly's face as he ushered the ball out for a goal kick during United's 3-0 Scottish Premiership win at Tannadice. Referee Andrew Dallas and his nearby assistant missed the transgression. It was the latest in a long line of offences and the third time Goodwin has been hit with retrospective punishment by the SFA. The 32-year-old was banned for two matches after a forearm smash on Dundee United midfielder Stuart Armstrong on Boxing Day last year, two years after he accepted a two-match ban for punching then Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings in the stomach. Goodwin, an affable character off the park, began his competitive career as player/coach by being sent off against Motherwell on the opening day of this season after receiving a second yellow card for smashing his arm into the back of John Sutton's neck. The former Huddersfield player has been booked five times since then to add to the 43 yellow cards and three red cards in his previous three seasons at St Mirren. Goodwin will begin his suspension when St Mirren host Partick Thistle on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. "The club are disappointed in Jim's conduct given that this is not the first time he has been guilty of an offence of this nature. The club have taken internal disciplinary action, which the player has accepted. "Neither the club nor the player will be making any further comment on this matter."