Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, today revealed Phil O’Donnell’s family have been “overwhelmed by the support and messages from people inside and outside the football world” following the death of the Fir Park captain.

The former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder died after collapsing during his team’s match against Dundee United yesterday.

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.

“None of us yet can comprehend what has happened,” McGhee said. “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 added: “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 (Scottish Premier League).

“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.”

McGhee revealed that the O’Donnell family were struggling to come to terms with their loss. He said: “They benefit from being a large family and a strong and close family. But as you can understand, Phil’s mum and dad and his brothers and sisters are devastated by this.

“His wife Aileen is inconsolable but again, she has a very strong family around here to support her and help her through this.”

The Motherwell manager paid his own personal tribute to O’Donnell, saying: “His performance yesterday was the best of the season as far as we are concerned.

“He was energised by the performance of the younger players, he was inspired by them. There were times in the game when he looked across at us and smiled and shook his head because he was in awe of what was going on around him, the football that was being played and the attitude of the young players around him.

“I think he was proud to be part of that and I think they, as we said to them, should be proud to have provided him with that and to perform the way they did.”