Aberdeen also confirmed their approach for the Irishman as they seek a successor to Stephen Glass, who left on Sunday after 11 months in charge.

Aberdeen are eighth in the table, with St Mirren two points above in sixth.

Barry Robson took interim charge as the Pittodrie side drew 1-1 at home to St Johnstone on Tuesday - their sixth game without victory - to move up one place.

Former skipper Goodwin, 40, led St Mirren to ninth and then seventh - their highest finish in 32 years - after replacing Oran Kearney in June 2019.

Goodwin's side reached two semi-finals last season and face Hearts next month in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, while Aberdeen's fifth-round defeat to Motherwell on Saturday proved to be Glass' final game in charge.

Goodwin spent two years on the St Mirren coaching staff before taking his first managerial post at Alloa Athletic in 2016. He steered the part-time club to promotion to the Championship in 2017-18 and kept them up the following season.

As a player, the midfielder made 181 appearances for St Mirren and captained the team to League Cup success in 2013.