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Jimmy Walker's Walsall warning on O'Donnell

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Legendary Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker believes the club will struggle to replace Richard O'Donnell if their No 1 moves on this summer.

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O'Donnell's future remains uncertain with the out-of-contract shot-stopper yet to indicate whether he will accept a new two-year deal.

And Walker, the club's record appearance holder, is keeping his fingers crossed the 26-year-old opts to stay at the Banks's.

"I hope so because he has been excellent for them," said Walker, who made 534 appearances during two spells with the Saddlers.

"Keepers like that are not easy to replace and he has been one of their best players. I know he is highly thought of by the fans.

"It is players like that you need to build the team around."

O'Donnell, who joined as a free agent in 2013, made 105 consecutive appearances before being left out of the final two league games.

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Talks over a new deal began in November with a further offer made by the club in February. But boss Dean Smith admitted last week they have been planning for the possibility of life without their player of the season.

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"As a player, you want to be at the highest level you can, so it is tough to blame the lad if someone else has come in," added Walker. "It is his decision to make."

For clubs such as Walsall, Walker believes a keeper of O'Donnell's quality can be the difference between mid-table and pushing for the play-offs.

"There is not a lot between the vast majority of teams," he said. "The top four have been by far and away the best teams and the two who didn't go up automatically will contest the play-off final.

"With a good keeper and one or two other decent players you only need a bit of momentum to be right up there."