admin“It’s Awful”- Henrik Pedersen reveals the real reason why Barry Bannan is leaving Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen has opened up on the uncertain future of club captain Barry Bannan amid growing interest from Championship rivals Millwall.
Bannan has been a mainstay at Hillsborough for nearly 11 years after arriving on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2015.
However, Wednesday’s ongoing difficulties have led to several players leaving during the current transfer window, raising doubts over the skipper’s future.
Manchester United loanee Harry Amass has already opted for a move to Norwich City, while youngster Yisa Alao has completed a switch to Chelsea. Now, Bannan could follow them out of the door despite being one of the most experienced players in the Championship.
In fact, only six players across the division have spent longer at a single club than Bannan has at Sheffield Wednesday.
Those include Dael Fry at Middlesbrough, Jay Fulton at Swansea City, Jack Stephens at Southampton, Sam Long at Oxford United, Craig Forsyth at Derby County, and Bannan’s current teammate Liam Palmer.
Palmer was seen sharing an emotional embrace with Bannan at full-time following the draw with Bristol City, highlighting the sense that a farewell may be approaching.
While Scottish sides Motherwell and Hibernian have shown interest, Championship clubs including Millwall, Stoke City, and Preston North End have also been monitoring the situation.
Pedersen addressed the issue as speculation intensified. Bannan appeared visibly emotional during the recent game against Birmingham City, even though he has repeatedly expressed his desire to see out his career at Wednesday.
That commitment was underlined in the summer when he signed a new contract at Hillsborough, accepting a significantly reduced salary of around £7,000 per week.
Despite that loyalty, Millwall are reportedly prepared to offer the 36-year-old an 18-month deal on much higher wages, a proposal that could prove hard to turn down at this stage of his career.
The Lions were said to be leading the race last week, although initial reports suggested no formal bid had been submitted.
That has since changed, with BBC Radio Sheffield reporter Rob Staton revealing that Millwall made an official approach on Saturday evening, with the transfer expected to be completed at some point this week.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Pedersen shared his emotions about the situation, saying it has been incredibly difficult for everyone connected to the club.
He stressed, however, that no one has found it harder than Bannan himself, given the deep affection and loyalty he holds for Sheffield Wednesday. The uncertainty surrounding the club’s future has weighed heavily on the midfielder.
To make matters worse for the Owls, they are unlikely to receive any transfer fee for their talisman. A verbal agreement is believed to be in place that would allow Bannan to leave on a free transfer should the move to Millwall go through.
If this does mark the end of Bannan’s time at Hillsborough, it would be a bittersweet conclusion to an outstanding spell.
His commitment, consistency, and quality over more than a decade have made him the type of player supporters cherish.
His departure would also leave a significant void in the dressing room, especially given the youth of the current squad, with only 13 other players over the age of 22 remaining at the club.
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