He has been offered a new contract and is seen as the successor to released Rob Burch as No 2 keeper - a job that is regarded as important by Brian Laws.

The Owls manager has told of his delight at the way O'Donnell, aged 19, has staked his claim for a step up the ladder.

"Richard has done very well and we are really pleased with his progress," said Laws. "He has also been out on loan and benefitted from the experience.

"With Rob Burch going, it allows Richard to come through and blossom, and he has really come on in the last six months."

O'Donnell is seen as the man who can provide the competition for places to keep Lee Grant on his toes,

Laws believes that rivalry between Grant and Burch, who now wants first-team football, was a factor in the No 1 keeper's excellent season.

O'Donnell has had loan spells at Rotherham and York during the last 14 months, and Millers manager Mark Robins spoke highly of him.

The keeper spent the last two months of the season on loan at Oldham and made four league appearances.

Oldham's senior keeper is former Owls loan player Mark Crossley, who has agreed a new one-year deal with John Sheridan's outfit.

Meanwhile, ex-Owls captain Nigel Pearson should be kept on as Southampton manager, says outgoing chairman Leon Crouch.

A change in power, with former chairmen Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde returning, has caused some speculation about Pearson's future though he kept the team up.

But Crouch says Pearson has done a fantastic job. "He is a great character who has won over the fans and the staff in a very short time. He brought the best out of the players and he has all the qualities to take this club forward.," he said.

"With Nigel in charge, I do believe we have a great chance of a successful season." "

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