What Barry Bannan said when he left Sheffield Wednesday - is a return looming? | OneFootball

FLW looks back on what Barry Bannan said when his decade-long stint at Sheffield Wednesday came to an end in January, amidst reports he may return

Sheffield Wednesday are set to begin life back in League One in August with a newfound optimism in the transfer market and purpose of being promoted immediately back to the Championship.

David Storch and the Arise consortium have worked tirelessly over the last two-and-a-half weeks to put foundations in place, so the Owls can attack the transfer window when it opens on June 15. David Bruce is already in as the new CEO, while Simon Wilson is being heavily touted as the new sporting director.

Those movements have gotten Wednesday fans excited, and that good feeling could be increased tenfold if they were to bring back Barry Bannan as one of their first signings.

The 36-year-old is a legend at Hillsborough, spending over a decade there from 2015 to this past January, when he left for Millwall amidst the uncertainty surrounding what his future would look like with the club still in administration.

Since then, though, the former preferred bidder, James Bord, pulled out of his bid, and the more popular David Storch has arrived. TalkSPORT's Alan Biggs speculated on X that, if Arise had been in place from the start, he likely would have stayed put.

After an unproductive few months at the Den, where he was used primarily as a squad option, the 36-year-old could be on his way back, and Alex Neil's side is reportedly not going to stand in his way of making that return.

What Barry Bannan said when he left Sheffield Wednesday

Bannan was, understandably, emotional when he left Sheffield Wednesday in January.

The veteran midfielder had made 477 appearances for the Owls, and had stuck with them through the highs of reaching the Championship play-offs and the lows of last summer during the twilight of Dejphon Chansiri's time as owner.

He held back the tears in his exit speech, saying, "As soon as I came into the place, I felt loved from day one. Looking all the way back, it's hard to remember these things, but I remember coming to a club that took to me straight away.

"I've had loads [of great memories]. I'd always say that Wembley, the first time against Hull, was the best worst day I've ever had. I remember looking out onto Wembley Way to a sea of blue and white, and after the game, they stayed in and clapped us even though we lost. It was unbelievable.

"Further down the line, the miracle against Peterborough, turning that around, will be remembered forever here. Barnsley at Wembley too, but the game last Saturday against Bristol City [his final game] wasn't something I'd ever witnessed in my life.

"The bit at the end made it all worth it. That's why you're in football. To get that support I got from start to finish is something I'll take to my grave."

It wasn't just the football side of things that Bannan had an impact on at the club, though. The 36-year-old has been an ambassador for the Sheffield Children's Hospital and really bought into the community in South Yorkshire.

Arguably, that's mostly why the Scotsman is loved at Hillsborough, above the performances he put in on the pitch.

"This city's given me and my family everything. The best years of my life have been in this city," he continued. "It's always nice to give something back. Being so popular in the city, you're a role model for the younger ones growing up, so I've always felt as if I've had to give back to this place. It's my second home.

"There have been some people in the training ground who have been there for way longer than me who are still there. I've seen these people every day for 11 years, whether you want to or not! That's the hardest thing for me. Not to see them will be hard. Some of the relationships have been amazing.

"My family will be gutted, but they'll be Wednesday fans forever. It's just an amazing club. It's everything to me, and hopefully they can get back to where they should be."

Barry Bannan's final message to the fans — he may be returning sooner than they thought

Bannan's final message to the fans before he parted ways and left for Millwall was just as emotional, but it may not be long until they are reunited once more.

"I'll start by thanking you for the 11 years I've been here. It's been amazing, and I've said all along, God-willing, I'll be back here in some capacity, whether it's coaching, as a fan, whatever that may be. I will be in the stadium when I've finished playing.

"Because of you, I stayed here so long, and hopefully one day we will meet again."

The 36-year-old listed his return as being due to coaching or cheering on the squad in the stands at Hillsborough, rather than as a player, but perhaps he'll be able to see out his career at Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls have had internal discussions about whether a reunion this summer would be the right decision for the club moving forward, and all signs should point to that happening.

Bannan's return would go a long way to making Wednesday fans invested in the team once more, but the quality that he still has on the ball would improve the Owls' squad as they return to League One.

It was an emotional departure, and a return, if it does come, will be even more emotional, but for all the right reasons.