Barry Bannan reveals 'massive difference' he's noticed at Sheffield Wednesday | OneFootball

Barry Bannan has opened up on the changes David Storch has made at Sheffield Wednesday after returning to the club from Millwall this summer.

A new era is underway at Sheffield Wednesday after David Storch completed his takeover of the club.

It was a nightmare campaign for Wednesday last season as they were relegated from the Championship and spent over six months in administration, but they will hope that better times are ahead under Storch's ownership.

With plenty of work to do at Hillsborough ahead of the new season, it has been a busy start to Storch's reign, and the Owls have already made nine new signings so far this summer, including Joe Lumley, Ricardo Santos, Sil Swinkels, Billy Mitchell, Callum Slattery, Jordi Liongola, Louie Barry and Harry Gray.

However, while the new faces have been well-received by the Wednesday faithful, the transfer deal that has generated the most excitement is the return of former captain Barry Bannan.

Bannan scored 37 goals and provided 75 assists in 477 appearances for the Owls during a 10-and-a-half year spell at Hillsborough before departing for Millwall in January, but his time at The Den lasted less than six months.

The 36-year-old made 16 appearances for the Lions in the second half of last season as they missed out on promotion to the Premier League, but only six of those came from the start, and he has now re-joined Wednesday, putting pen to paper on a one-year contract in S6.

Barry Bannan reveals big Sheffield Wednesday changes after Hillsborough return

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Speaking during the club's pre-season trip to Hungary, Bannan reflected on his "tough" exit from Wednesday in January and admitted that his mood has "changed a lot since I’ve been back".

Bannan also opened up on some of the changes he has noticed at Hillsborough since returning to the club last month, revealing that Storch is already making significant improvements in a number of areas compared to the final stages of the Dejphon Chansiri era.

When asked if he feels the club has been reborn under Storch's ownership, Bannan told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Yeah, there's been a massive difference since I've come back.

"If we look back at pre-season last season compared to now, things that are going on at the training ground, and just little things that have perked the boys up.

"Obviously, the stadium is getting done, the new kit, the new sponsor, just little things like that, but, mainly, the most important thing is on the pitch.

"I think from last pre-season to this pre-season, there's a massive lift in standards and quality in the changing room.

"Even through the season last year, I think the quality has gone up from there as well.

"You can definitely see a massive, massive difference.

"For the positive side of things as well, we've still kept a lot of good lads here who know the club inside out and are going to be important on and off the pitch.

"The club has needed an identity for a while now, and I think these people will be important in having that identity and style of play and knowing what the club is about and what the fans expect.

"You need them people to drive that to the new ones.

"It's an amazing place to be at the minute, and I think all of the lads would say the same."

Barry Bannan return could give Sheffield Wednesday a League One promotion advantage

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While further additions are still needed if Wednesday are to compete for promotion in League One next season, there is no doubt that it has been a strong start to the club's summer rebuild.

With Liam Palmer retaining the captaincy for next season, Bannan will have a different role to play after his return to Hillsborough, and at the age of 36, it remains to be seen whether he will be a regular starter in the third tier or used as an impact substitute in certain games, as he was during his brief stint at Millwall.

However, while he is coming towards the end of his career, Bannan proved at The Den that he still possesses plenty of quality, and he could be something of a cheat code for the Owls as they plot an immediate return to the Championship.