By Stu owl
June 3 2008
Billy Mercer has outlined the strong shape of the Owls' goalkeeping personnel ahead of the 2008/09 campaign. Current Players' Player of the Year Lee Grant cemented the number one slot last term and the former Derby man faces new competition for the gloves next time out.
With Rob Burch having been released by boss Brian Laws, Richard O'Donnell takes the role of immediate back-up with promising young custodian Arron Jameson stepping up to number three.
SWFC keeper coach Mercer is confident the club remains well-served between the sticks, as he told the Wednesday World cameras at Middlewood Road:
"We're looking strong and healthy in all levels of the goalkeeping department. We've lost Rob Burch but replaced him with a younger model, you might say, in Richard O'Donnell.
"Richard has done everything asked of him in training and for the reserves, the next step up was first team football, so the loan spell he had at Oldham last season did him the world of good."
Eighteen-year-old shot-stopper Jameson has also benefited from a temporary spell away from Hillsborough - in his case at Huddersfield - and Mercer insists it will stand the towering youngster in good stead for the future.
He continued: "Arron went to Huddersfield and he came back a far more experienced player and person.
"He's since blown us away in training, taking his game to the next level. I'm very confident he will push O'Donnell all the way next season and O'Donnell will be pushing Grant all the way too."