Exclusive:'It was hard' - Barry Bannan reveals why he left Sheffield Wednesday in January transfer window
Speaking exclusively to The Star, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan has opened up on why he left Hillsborough in this year’s January transfer window.
Former captain Barry Bannan has admitted that he never wanted to leave Sheffield Wednesday earlier this year, revealing he had ‘never, ever felt as bad’ in his life as he did on the day of his exit.
The 36-year-old, who is understood to be closing in on a return to Hillsborough, left the Owls in the January transfer window to join Millwall, who were pushing for promotion to the Premier League.
Bannan had been on Wednesday’s books for ten-and-a-half years, meaning it was difficult for everyone associated with the club to accept the fact he was moving on. He signed an 18-month deal at The Den, strengthening Millwall boss Alex Neil’s midfield options.
The former Crystal Palace man made his farewell appearance for the Owls in a 2-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate four days before his switch to the capital was finalised, marking the end of an era. Bannan broke down in tears in front of the travelling Wednesdayites and had to be consoled by his teammates.
For the first time since leaving Hillsborough, Bannan has now opened up on why a departure materialised, admitting he tried to delay an exit for as long as he possibly could.
Speaking exclusively to The Star, Bannan said: “It was hard. I really tried to delay it for the whole of January because I never wanted to do it, obviously.
“So, I could have left the first day in January, realistically, but I kept holding off and holding off to see what was happening with preferred bidders and stuff like that. So, I tried to hold it off for as long as possible, really, because, at the end of the day, I didn't really want to do it.
“But then it came to the time when the club was still up in arms. There was a preferred bidder, but there was a lot of talk about that falling through, which, looking back now, it did fall through.
“It was hard because it kind of went really fast as well. It got announced on the Friday, the Bristol City game was on Saturday, and then I was off. So, yes, it was difficult. I've never, ever felt as bad as I did in my life, I don't think, when I was leaving that day.
“Not just [for my] teammates and the fans being the main thing, but you look around and you see staff and that hits them hard because I was a big part of the club. I'd been there for years and made good relationships with loads of people, players, staff and fans.
“So, for me to leave at that time was really hard. Up until now, it's probably the hardest day that I've had to deal with.”
At the juncture of Bannan’s departure, the James Bord-led consortium had preferred bidder status to buy the club out of administration. The group had secured preferred bidder status on Christmas Eve and was in the process of going through the regulatory checks.
However, they pulled out of the takeover race on February 26, meaning Arise Capital Partners were later installed as the new preferred bidder to purchase the club.
Revealing why he made the decision to leave, Bannan quashed suggestions it was because Wednesday needed money to stay afloat, explaining he had doubts about the direction the club was potentially going to head in.
“I left on a free, so it was nothing to do with money,” Bannan continued. “It was more so the future of the club that I was worried about.
“I was asking questions and, obviously, you don't get answers, and I was getting answers that I didn't really like as well at the same time. Everything that I did was for the best of the club because the club's in my heart.
“I'm passionate, I wear my heart on my sleeve and, if I don't like something, I'll say it, no matter who it is. Because, at the end of the day, I was there for the club, I'll always have the club at heart, and I'll always have the club's best interests at heart.
“So, it wasn't to do with money or the club having to sell me or forcing me out. It was just, as I said at the time, with everything that was happening, I didn't like the direction that the club was going [in].
“Looking back, I obviously wanted to stay, but I got a chance that I couldn't really turn down at the same time. They were fighting for promotion in the Championship.
“The World Cup was coming up as well, and that was probably my last real chance to make the World Cup in my career. So I thought, ‘I've got to give it a go’.”