O’donnell happy to wait until summer before deciding where his future lies

Stephen O’donnell is set to hold off on his future until the end of the season.

The Scotland international is out of contract at the end of the campaign and has been offered a new deal by Kilmarnock, who face Motherwell tonight in the Premiership.

But he is prepared to let his contract run down before deciding whether to extend his stay or move on.

On his contract, O’donnell, pictured, said: “There’s been no progress. Just now I am trying my best for Kilmarnock and I’ll just keep working away.

“There are things going on off the pitch as my wife is pregnant and I’m keeping focused on that, along with the football. The end of the season will be when I’ll decide probably what I’ll do. I’m fortunate enough that Kilmarnock have offered me a contract but just now I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do.

“I’m happy with my situation. I won’t be the first or last person coming into the last six months of my contract.”

Motherwell assistant manager Keith Lasley believes the club are reaping the benefits of their players’ willingness to improve. Almost 12 months on from a 7-1 thrashing at Ibrox, Well side took the lead at the same venue on Sunday before conceding a late goal in a 2-1 defeat. They can regain third spot in the table with victory tonight.

The reason for their success? “It’s hard work on all counts,” he said. “It sounds a bit cliche but everyone is playing their part. It’s all right coming up with a plan, but the players have to buy into it, do the work and be willing to improve.

“It’s taking them out of their comfort zone and making them believe they can be better, individually and as a group. We’ve got that in that dressingroom,guyswhowant to be better than they have been and want to improve on a daily basis.”

Former West Brom and Scotland midfielder James Morrison has announced his retirement aged 33.

He will return to The Hawthorns in the summer, to take up a coaching role at the club’s academy.

He said: “Football has been my life for so long. It’s difficult to say goodbye to that.”

Darlington-born Morrison started his career at Middlesbrough and joined Albion in 2007, appearing 341 times for the club and scoring 39 goals. He won 46 caps for Scotland, scoring three goals.