KEEPER Richard O’Donnell has joined City on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old stopper, a target for Phil Parkinson in the summer of 2015, still had two years left on his Northampton contract. But he was allowed to leave for free because of a relegation clause.

O’Donnell only joined the Cobblers in January - and made his debut in their 2-1 win at Valley Parade which sparked City’s losing run that would cost Stuart McCall his job.

The Yorkshireman played 19 times but could not save them from the drop to League Two.

O’Donnell began his career at Sheffield Wednesday before making his mark for Walsall.

After Parkinson lost out to Wigan for his services three years ago, he moved on to Bristol City and Rotherham and played regularly in the Championship.

He had been also linked with West Brom, who are in the market for a back-up keeper, but will instead fill the gap left by Colin Doyle’s departure last week.