Barry Bannan tipped for new Sheffield Wednesday role if he returns | OneFootball

Barry Bannan has been linked with a potential return to Sheffield Wednesday this summer

Sheffield Wednesday endured a disastrous campaign off the back of significant financial issues over the last year.

The Owls suffered relegation to League One, ending the season with a total of zero points due to being docked a combined 18 by the EFL.

Henrik Pedersen’s side won just twice all term, with their only home victory coming on the final day.

The Yorkshire outfit went into administration in October, and lost several key players throughout the year, including Josh Windass and Barry Bannan.

But the new owners, Arise Capital, are in place ahead of the summer, and it could be quite a busy period at Hillsborough as the rebuild gets underway.

The group led by David Storch will be keen to ensure Sheffield Wednesday get back to a competitive level as quickly as possible.

Chris Waddle backs Barry Bannan for new Sheffield Wednesday role

Bannan departed Hillsborough during the January transfer window, making the switch to Millwall.

The midfielder became a modern club legend during his decade-long stint with the club, but their worsening financial position ultimately played a role in his move to the Lions.

But it has been reported this month that the 36-year-old could make his return to the Owls this summer following the confirmation of Storch’s takeover.

Chris Waddle believes that the midfielder could take on a player-coach role as part of a return to the team, and that Pedersen’s squad will need people like him on board in order to get back to a competitive level.

The 65-year-old has suggested that Sheffield Wednesday need to make signings that could potentially stick with the club if they get promoted to the Championship, and that Bannan fits the bill.

“Barry has been a great servant to Wednesday,” said Waddle, via The Star.

“There’s talk of him coming back.

“I could see Barry coming back as a player-coach but let’s be honest, if they’re serious about getting out of League One and doing well in the Championship if they go up, they need to get in players of a good age, from good stables, and they need to build a side to compete at a higher level.

“I don’t want to hear excuses that everybody was on their way out, or that they’ve signed 15 players this season to play in League One who they’ll have to get rid of next summer if they’re going to play in the Championship.

“It doesn’t work, football-wise.

“Wednesday have to start building now with the idea that if they do go up, they can compete in the Championship by adding two or three players, not another 10.”

Bannan initially joined Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2015, and he went on to make 477 appearances for the club before signing for Millwall earlier this year.

He was a crucial part of the side that earned back-to-back top six finishes in the Championship under Carlos Carvalhal in 2016 and 2017, as well as the squad that achieved promotion from League One under Darren Moore in 2023.

The 36-year-old featured 28 times for the Owls this season, contributing three goals and three assists, but he struggled for consistent game time in Alex Neil’s side.

Bannan started just six of his 14 appearances for Millwall in the regular campaign, and came off the bench in both legs of their 2-0 play-off semi-final defeat to Hull City.

Barry Bannan coaching role would make sense for Sheffield Wednesday

Bannan has done work to get some of his coaching badges, so it is a role that could be appealing to him as he reaches the final stages of his playing career.

He has a strong attachment to Sheffield Wednesday, and a return to the club this summer would be a great piece of business by the new owners.

If the Owls can bring him back, then giving him a coaching role could prove quite a smart decision, as it will give him early experience in the role and give him greater responsibility as the team looks to fight for promotion.

Given there will likely be a lot of turnover of the squad this summer, having someone who knows the club so well in such a role could be extremely beneficial to helping everyone quickly adjust to the new reality at Hillsborough.