ST MIRREN legend Campbell Money reckons Buddies skipper Jim Goodwin has to get cute to get back into the good books of referees.

Goody has been running the gauntlet this season from opposition managers and players alike.

In recent weeks he has been on the end of verbal barbs from Dundee United gaffer Jackie McNamara and previously from Ross County boss Derek Adams, for a playing style that Money reckons is "on the edge".

Having been given a two- game ban for a challenge on Dundee United's Stuart Armstrong, Goodwin has come back and immediately picked up successive yellow cards against St Johnstone and Hibs.

With the former Republic of Ireland international now clearly a marked man with officials, Saints boss Danny Lennon admitted after his side's 3-2 win at Easter Road on Saturday that he has real concerns over Goody's future in the top flight

Now the Paisley side's Scottish Cup-winning goalkeeping great has compared Goody with another silverware-winning skipper, Billy Abercromby - who landed a 12-game ban for being sent off three times in one game - and has urged the midfielder to modify his uncompromising playing style.

Money said: "I know Jim won't thank me for saying this but I think he needs to maybe get that bit cuter.

"I do see comparisons with him and Billy Abercromby in that they were both wholehearted players who performed on the edge.

"But for me Abercromby was that wee bit cuter and if something needed done he tended to make sure it went unseen.

"Jim is having a hard time of it right now, and that is tough because he is hard but he is fair. But once the opposition fans have it in for you and you get a reputation then mud sticks.

"So he needs to be that little bit cuter and use his head to avoid putting himself in positions where he can come a cropper."

He went on: "The only problem with that is if Jim Goodwin does modify his style of play then will he be as effective?

"The bottom line is he is far more use to St Mirren on the park than he is in the stand and he just can't afford to be picking up a yellow card every game."

Back on October 29, 1986, Money's Saints team-mate Abercromby was sent off for three red-card offences, one for foul play and two counts of dissent, during a tousy match against Motherwell at Love Street.

Casting his mind back to that era, Money revealed there was indeed a silver lining that Goodwin can take heart from.

He said: "I remember that one well. Billy copped it from Louis Thow, the referee, and he wouldn't go quietly. As a result he was banned for 12 matches.

"But the great thing was he came back and led us to the 1987 Scottish Cup when we beat Dundee United. So Jim can take some encouragement from that tale."

Saints have released versatile defender David Barron.