O'Donnell's 'overwhelmed' by support

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The former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder died after collapsing during his team's match against Dundee United on Sunday. McGhee, who visited the O'Donnell family before addressing the media waiting outside Fir Park, read out a message from the family in an impromptu press conference, televised by Sky Sports News.

The message read: "None of us yet can comprehend what has happened. We have been overwhelmed by the support and messages from people inside and outside the football world. We are grateful for all the support we have received. In the meantime we would appreciate our privacy is respected and we are given time to grieve."

Speaking on behalf of the Lanarkshire club, McGhee continued: "As far we we are concerned, exactly the same applies.

"Everyone, the players, the supporters, every one inside the executive are devastated and absolutely dumbfounded by the event of Phil's death.

"We had a meeting this morning with the players and obviously they have taken it very, very badly and we are going to have to help them through that.

"The match on Wednesday against Hibs has been postponed and we have agreed with Celtic that the game on Sunday will also be postponed but we are waiting for that to be ratified by the SPL.

"Obviously from the football club's point of view, we are overwhelmed by the support here and we are going to miss a guy who was a fine man, a guy who was a fantastic example to all of his colleagues.

"He was a man among boys in every sense, in his attitude, his professionalism and integrity and sincerity. He was a great, great player to have worked with and I'm honoured to have been his manager."