O’Donnell urges Hatters to punish lesser sides this season

The Hatters let too many points slip through their hands in the last campaign and young wide man JJ O’Donnell is determined it won’t happen this time around.

Fresh from signing a one-year contract extension on Monday, he said: “The defeat at Eastlands was massive and all the lads were gutted. It’s not a nice way to lose but one team has to.

“There is only one aim for the club this season, we have to go up as number one and all the lads know that.

“We have got to go to Southport and Braintree and get three points. We can’t go there and get one point, it has to be three.”

The former St Albans City teenager is grateful for having his contract extended and is now hoping to force his way into the side.

He said: “Everyone knows the expectations of the club and he (manager Gary Brabin) could have easily just said thank you JJ but we’ve seen enough. I understand it’s a tough league to get out of.

“But hopefully if I can get a run in the side I can prove what I can do.”

The players will return to a much-changed dressing room next term with Adam Newton, Lloyd Owusu and Jason Walker all gone, while Dean Beckwith and Aaron O’Conner have joined Town.

But O’Donnell is hopeful it will only make the Hatters more successful, adding: “It’s part and parcel of football, it’s like that at any level. You get people coming and going. I know Newts and Lloyd have gone and they were great lads to have around the changing rooms.

“We’ve got a great dressing room. All the lads are brilliant together. We have a good laugh in the changing room.

“The gaffer is going to bring in good footballers that want to play in the side.”