Football
Sheffield Wednesday’s New Sporting Director Targets Barry Bannan Return
Sheffield Wednesday v Portsmouth - Sky Bet Championship by Harriet Massey | Getty Images
Simon Wilson’s first task as Sheffield Wednesday Sporting Director will be to bring club legend Barry Bannan back to the club, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Former Manchester City man Wilson left Stockport County, where he held a dual role of of Sporting Director and CEO, after a successful six-year stint last week.
As reported by local news outlets earlier this week, Wilson met with members of the Owls’ new hierarchy in South Yorkshire and is set to be imminently announced as the Hillsborough shake up continues.
Sources close to the club last night revealed to SportsBoom that the Owls want to thrash out a deal to bring former club captain Bannan back to Hillsborough, just months after his emotional goodbye.
The 36-year-old ended his storied 11-year stint at the club in January when he signed an 18-month deal with promotion-chasing Millwall.
Ultimately, the Lions’ Premier League dreams were dashed as they finished third before losing to Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.
Bannan was mainly employed off the bench since moving to the Den.
It is well known that Bannan wanted to end his career at Wednesday, a club where he has etched his name in history whether he finishes his playing days there or not.
But with the club in financial peril and, it is understood by sources, Bannan not having faith in the preferred bidders to take over the club from Dejphon Chansiri the Scot left after a memorable 477 games at the club.
New Dawn With Old Legend
There is optimism for the future of the club now US businessman David Storch is in charge, with the final game of the season the marking of, hopefullym a new era for Wednesday fans after enduring their recent woes.
It would be a fitting return to the club if a deal can be struck between Wednesday and Millwall and it is one that is understood to be high on the Owls’ agenda ahead of their return to League One.
He was the standout performer the last time the Owls were relegated to the third tier and his return would help galvanise spirits in S6.
Editor's Insight
With more than 400 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, Barry Bannan’s connection to the club has never faded. The big question is whether the Owls’ new ownership can afford his wages, or whether the Scot would be willing to take a pay cut to finish his career where he truly belongs. A return feels more likely than not.
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