How much Barry Bannan earns at Millwall compared to Sheffield Wednesday | OneFootball

Football League World explores the difference in wages Barry Bannan was earning at his former and current clubs

Barry Bannan's decade-long stint at Sheffield Wednesday came to an end this past January, as the Owls legend left Hillsborough to join fellow Championship side Millwall.

It was a day that not many Wednesdayites thought would come. Bannan had stuck with the club through several years of financial turmoil under former owner Dejphon Chansiri and remained a Wednesday player even when the club was in League One.

And even when murmurs circled midway through the winter window that other Championship clubs were interested in bringing the 36-year-old Scot to their club, it was a real gut-punch when it was announced that he'd told his teammates that the trip to Bristol City would be his final game for the club.

In the end, he'd move to Millwall, with Wednesday stating that "with a heavy heart, [Bannan] has decided it is an offer he must accept and gives him the chance to fight for promotion to the Premier League.

Additionally, the Owls said that, due to the club's position in administration, they weren't able to give Bannan the assurances he was seeking, and neither was the preferred bidder at the time, James Bord.

A lot of people assumed that was money-related, but how much did the 36-year-old earn at the Den compared to his time at Hillsborough?

How much Barry Bannan earns at Millwall compared to Sheffield Wednesday

Bannan was out of contract this time last year, and with numerous players leaving the club due to late wage payments from the former owner, Dejphon Chansiri, not many were expecting the midfielder to remain at Hillsborough.

But the 36-year-old reported for pre-season training at Middlewood Road anyway, despite not being under contract, and a week before the new season began, he signed an extension.

Per Capology's estimates, Bannan was earning a healthy £24,038 per year at Sheffield Wednesday. But that contrasted with Alan Nixon's reporting at the time of Millwall's interest, stating that the Scot had signed terms worth £7,000 per week, which is a lot more realistic when taking into account the financial constraints surrounding the club.

Either way, the 36-year-old saw an 18-month contract at a promotion-chaser worth an estimated £17,500 per week as one that he couldn't turn down at the time, whether that be due to their league position or the security of the deal, or maybe even a combination of both.

So, depending on which avenue you want to go down, Bannan either took a pay cut to join Millwall or more than doubled his weekly wage. Either way, it helped the Owls cut back on costs as their administration continued.

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Bannan has been a useful squad player at Millwall since he arrived at the Den, starting just six times, but playing a part in all but three games since he made the switch.

His focus is now on the play-offs and going one further than he could do during his heyday at Sheffield Wednesday, and helping his current side secure promotion into the Premier League.

However, if Millwall does secure promotion into the top flight for the first time since the 1989/90 campaign, you'd imagine that Bannan will become surplus to requirements, as the window has arguably closed on making a first Premier League appearance in over a decade for the 36-year-old.

If he does leave, perhaps Sheffield Wednesday, now in the hands of David Storch, following James Bord's deal collapsing, could bring him back to Hillsborough.

The proposed salary cap hasn't been implemented for the Owls' next season, meaning that they can sign players on wages higher than £7,000 per week, and they won't have a £7 million seasonal spend, either.

Wednesday will have to be careful not to use up a large chunk of their available wage bill on Bannan, but if the stars align, perhaps the Scotsman will be able to have one last hurrah at Hillsborough before he retires.