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Jim Goodwin insists he can keep Dundee United in the Premier League after naming him the new chairman of Tannadice.
SunSport Online broke the news earlier today that Goodwin, 41, has accepted an offer to replace sacked Liam Fox.
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He first told us how the Irishman agreed to a contract until the end of the season.
His appointment has now been confirmed.
Incredibly, Goodwin’s first game this weekend will be against former club Aberdeen who sent him off just five weeks ago.
Goodwin said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to manage such a fantastic club with such a rich history and passionate fan base.
“I am aware of the job at hand – the only objective for the remainder of the season is to maintain our Premier League status.
“I know it’s a huge job but I wouldn’t have taken on the job if I didn’t believe in the players, the staff and my ability to be successful here.
“I am very excited to start my journey with Dundee United.”
Goodwin’s deal was sealed after a dramatic day of behind-the-scenes talks.
Craig Levein has been approached and became the favorite to return to United after discussing a deal on Tuesday night.
But the former Scottish chief had major reservations about the role.
John Hughes, former boss at Hibs and Dunfermline was also interviewed when he threw his hat into the ring.
But Goodwin soon emerged as a favorite as he made it clear he would be willing to embark on a short-term deal.
His style convinced the Tangerine bosses that he could lead the team out of the relegation quagmire.
The former St Mirren boss has only been out of a job since January after a series of disastrous results with the Dons.
The final straw was a 6-0 defeat by Hibs at Easter Road when he was sacked within minutes of the final whistle.
But United are in dire need of a shake-up as they face a relegation battle between now and the end of the season.
They are rooted to the bottom of the league and facing relegation to the Championship.
The club is also in turmoil behind the scenes with Tony Asghar resigning as sporting director on Tuesday.
US based owner Mark Ogren is also looking to sell and get a return on his £13m investment.
But United believe Goodwin can get them out of trouble and have jumped at the chance to return to management.
He will be joined at club number 2 by Lee Sharpe, with centre-back Charlie Mulgrew continuing in his role as first-team coach.
Chairman O’Grin added, “Along with other board members Scott O’Grin and Jimmy Fife, I have full confidence that Jim is the man to take us through this vital part of the season.
“As soon as we spoke, I sensed his desire and hunger for success for Dundee United.
“His knowledge of the league and the opponent was an important factor, and he really impressed the board with his passion for the challenge we had.
“As a club I would like to ask everyone to unite behind his leadership of the team as we look forward to finishing the season on a positive note.”
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