Paul Lambert, the former Scotland captain, yesterday urged the Scottish Premier League to call off the Celtic-Rangers match on Wednesday, so that the Scottish football world could grieve properly for his friend, Phil O’Donnell.

Motherwell’s traumatised players are in such a state of shock after watching their 35-year-old captain die in front of them on Saturday, that they have had their next two games called off by the SPL. Gretna - who share Fir Park, where the tragedy occurred - have also had their match at home to St Mirren on Wednesday postponed.

However, Lambert, who like O’Donnell, also played for both Motherwell and Celtic, feels that the SPL should also call off the Old Firm derby to honour O’Donnell, who died after a suspected brain seizure just as he was about to be substituted in Motherwell’s game with Dundee United at the weekend.

“They should just cancel the Old Firm game too,” Lambert, now manager of Wycombe Wanderers, said. “It would be a mark of respect for Phil. I am still stunned and all my former Celtic colleagues that I have spoken to cannot take this in. Everyone is in shock. Football does not mean anything right now.

“If the game has to be played, then I have no worries that it would be one of the best-respected minute’s silence ever. I think the Rangers fans would observe it perfectly. Phil was one of the most popular players in our game and things like this, cut across rivalries.”

Motherwell’s match with Hibernian, scheduled for Wednesday, was swiftly cancelled on Saturday night by the SPL and, yesterday, the home game against Celtic was also postponed after a plea from the O’Donnell family. “We understand from Phil’s family that they would appreciate it if the Motherwell v Celtic game scheduled for Sunday, January 6 could be postponed,” Lex Gold, the SPL chairman, said. “Both clubs are happy to meet the request and we have called the game off.

“Clearly Fir Park has become a place of homage for many fans of Phil. Being sensitive to this, Gretna and St Mirren have agreed with the SPL that the game on Wednesday should be postponed. The four other games will proceed as planned.”

Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, said the club had been “overwhelmed” by the support the club had received. “Phil was a man among boys in every sense, in his attitude, his professionalism and integrity and sincerity,” McGhee added.

“He was a great, great player to have worked with and I’m honoured to have been his manager. His performance on Saturday 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. I think he was proud to be part of that.”

McGhee also read a message from the O’Donnell family. “None of us yet can comprehend what has happened,” it read. O’Donnell leaves a wife, Eileen, also 35, and four children.

The manager called a team meeting yesterday morning and the Motherwell players asked for cancellation of their forthcoming fixtures. “Obviously, they have taken it very, very badly and we are going to have to help them through that,” McGhee said. “Phil was a figurehead to them, he was not just any player, he was the focal point of the squad. For any of us to contemplate going on a training ground, never mind a football ground at this moment in time is impossible. We are all going to need time to get back to work.”

A message of support also came from Terry Yorath, who was O’Donnell’s manager for a spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Yorath, who lost his own son, Daniel, 15, to a heart attack when they played football together in 1992, feels that football authorities in Britain have to implement mandatory health checks for players of all ages.

“They could take a levy from transfers to fund it,” Yorath said. “The PFA in England only screens young lads. Phil would not have been screened at Sheffield Wednesday. Phil was a smashing lad. Great at training where he would always talk to the young lads. Phil has had a good life and that’s what his family should think about, but it is terrible that he has gone. The best tribute the fans could make would be to go to his funeral.”