Archibald: Utd can wait for O'Donnell

Pic: Jeff Holmes

Partick boss Alan Archibald has told Dundee United they will have to wait until the summer to land Stephen O'Donnell.

The Tayside club are reported to be interested in the Thistle defender, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

But Archibald - who also ruled out a move for former United full-back Mark Wilson - has no plans to sanction O'Donnell's departure during the January window.

He said: I think there is a bit of interest from Dundee United and other clubs but I don't think Stephen will be leaving in this window.

He's a free agent at the end of the season and there is every chance he will go then.

With the teams who are showing a bit of interest in him, I don't think we would be able to match the wages that they could offer.

But, at this stage, Stephen and young Dale Keenan are the only full-backs we've got on our books.''

Archibald is keen to strengthen his squad this month but says Wilson is not on his wanted list.

The 30-year-old left United by mutual consent this week after failing to make a single appearance this season.

But Archibald has no plans to make a swoop, saying: He's just not what we are looking for at the moment.

It's a left full-back we've been trying to get first and foremost.''

Archibald has been frustrated in his bid to recruit new signings.

He said: We tried to get one or two in on Monday and we thought we had them.

But we've had a couple of knock-backs for different reasons.

We thought we had a defender in and it fell down at the last minute and the player changed his mind.''

He added: We're very reluctant to gamble and just grab anybody.

We want to make sure that the player we bring in is better than what we've got.''