Richard signed a one-year contract with Wednesday in May 2007 after stepping up from scholarship level. He was offered a further contract in the summer of 2008 following the departure of fellow goalkeeper Rob Burch and saw that deal extended 12 months later.

The local lad travelled with the first team squad to the USA in the summer of 2006 and played at the friendly at Burton Albion later that month, before being called onto the bench for the Carling Cup tie with Wrexham in August 2006. He went on to enjoy three fruitful loan spells in which he gained valuable first team experience, with York City, Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic.

O'Donnell has enjoyed another successful loan spell away from Hillsborough in 2010/11 - this time with Grimsby Town. The young keeper played for Wednesday against Grimsby in pre-season and went on to join the Mariners on loan proving popular with their supporters.  

With Nicky Weaver sidelined through injury in March 2011, O'Donnell stepped up to make his debut for the Owls against Southampton in the live TV clash.

Although Wednesday lost that game 2-0, the young keeper gave an excellent account of himself at St Mary's and made a number of eye-catching saves in front of the Sky cameras

.