Move forward as hired hoodlum (4)
I believe the answer is:
goon
This might be a double definition.
'move forward' is the first definition.
(go on)
'hired hoodlum' is the second definition.
'goon' can be an answer for 'hoodlum' (synonyms). I'm not sure about the 'hired' bit.
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for goon that I've seen before include "SPIKE] ?" , "someone rather stupid" , "Is this show" , "person making fool of himself" , "Sellers for example" .)