Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan has said he’s never entertained the prospect of leaving the club despite interest.
Barry Bannan, a Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, will celebrate his 10-year anniversary with the club this summer. SWFC signed him from Crystal Palace back in August 2015.
Since then, the Scottish playwright has firmly established himself in Hillsborough folklore. When he quits or retires from the Steel City club, he will be remembered as one of the best midfielders outside of the Premier League.
However, such a high level of performance has not gone unnoticed in the past, particularly since Wednesday’s relegation to League One.
Despite the difficulties he has faced throughout his 10-year career at Sheffield Wednesday, Bannan claims he has never considered leaving the club.
Speaking with Joe Crann on The Star’s All Wednesday Show, SWFC star Bannan joked that his agents ‘probably loathe’ him because he has never considered leaving despite numerous possibilities. He said:
“I suppose my agents undoubtedly despise me because, as weird as it seems, I’ve never considered a relocation.
“Obviously, my agents have approached me before and informed me that there are teams interested in me, but there has never been a chat with them about going to see what’s in it. I simply get on with it.
“They obviously have to tell me, that’s their job, but it’s not something I’ve entertained because I’ve always had a goal at this club that I set for myself. I’ve always enjoyed it here.
“So because I’ve never entertained it, nothing’s ever got to a point where it’s been close… I’ve just left it in the background. Maybe my agents were fuming with me at the time, but I’ve never wanted to leave, ever. Not at any point in my career here.”
Future under the microscope again
There can be no mistake about Bannan’s passion for life at Sheffield Wednesday. There has never been any doubt about his dedication to the club, and despite interest from other clubs, he has never considered leaving.
Bannan has helped the team recover from League One and has been instrumental in their success since their return to the Championship, working alongside manager Danny Rohl.
However, the veteran Scot’s future is once again under scrutiny this summer. Bannan’s contract expires at the conclusion of this season, and following a one-year extension last summer, fresh terms will need to be agreed upon.
However, as long as Bannan continues to play, it appears that he will always have a place at Sheffield Wednesday, especially given his current performance level.
The current focus
While it remains to be seen what the future holds for the now 35-year-old Bannan, SWFC is looking for consistent consistency to keep them in contention for the play-offs.
Three defeats in the last four games have hampered their chances, but with six points separating them from the top six, there is still time to close the gap during the final 12 games of the season.
To keep their hopes alive, Sheffield Wednesday must find their best form as soon as possible. The next match is a tough one on Friday night against Sunderland, who are currently fourth.
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