Unable to come to terms with the Newcastle Jets over a contract extension - with triggers for a second year the apparent sticking point - the 33-year-old’s sudden availability has the likes of Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers, Adelaide United and former club Central Coast Mariners scrambling for his signature.
Despite missing the first eight games of the campaign through suspension, O’Donovan still finished the season as the Jets’ leading goal scorer, with 11 goals from 18 appearances, including a double in the 6-1 battering of Brisbane Roar.
And his desire to to keep delivering isn’t dimming.
“There are three or four clubs in the league on the lookout for a number nine and I’m ambitious, and want to keep playing here and scoring goals,” O’Donovan told The World Game.
“Hopefully we can get something sorted soon before we go back to Ireland for our holidays next Monday.
“I hope I have a few choices and my agent Paddy Dominguez is actively looking, and hopefully I have a phone call soon with some positive news.
“I’m looking to get something sorted fairly quickly. But, in football, you never know."
Having brought a house on the Hunter last October in an act of commitment towards the Jets, O’Donovan might be tempted to stay in NSW when it comes to deciding on his next career destination.
But, at the same time, he acknowledges the impermanence of a footballer’s existence.
“We were planning on staying longer (in Newcastle) but that’s football sometimes and it doesn’t always work to plan,” he added.
O’Donovan led the speed and fitness stats at the Jets - no mean feat for a player who turns 34 in August.
And whoever gets him will have no fears on that score.
“I look after myself and that’s a credit to the sports science people I worked with at Newcastle like (Jets strength and conditioning coach) Chris Smith, who has been terrific.
“Before that there was Brice Johnson at the Mariners. I want to get some longevity out of my career and hope to be playing for another five or six years yet.
“In the short-term I just want to get a club sorted so my family life is sorted for next season.”
The former Sunderland and Coventry City predator has a prolific goals per game ratio with the Jets, having scored nine in 16 appearances last season as the club reached the A-League grand final.
He notched 11 in 26 games, and eight in 19, in his preceding two seasons with Central Coast.
“I want to be playing more games and scoring more goals,” he added.
“I’ve missed too many games through my own fault (suspensions) and don’t want that to happen anymore.
“It’s more about getting on pitch, getting in the box and scoring goals.
“Everything else is past and we’re moving on with the future now.”
