'My mood's changed' - Barry Bannan opens up on Sheffield Wednesday return and makes Millwall admission
Barry Bannan has opened up on his return to Sheffield Wednesday from Millwall
Barry Bannan has revealed his mood has changed “a lot” since his return to Sheffield Wednesday from Millwall.
The 36-year-old left Hillsborough in January, swapping a plummet towards League One for a push for promotion to the Premier League with Millwall.
He had become part of the furniture in S6 and his exit only intensified anger from fans towards off-field turbulence.
Wednesday were relegated while Bannan was in the capital, but they also managed to secure new owners in Arise Capital Partners.
The midfielder missed out on promotion via the play-offs with Millwall and earlier this month, sealed a quickfire return to S6.
Mood change after Sheffield Wednesday return
He told BBC Radio Sheffield: “I think my mood’s changed a lot since I’ve been back. Obviously, leaving was tough. I probably wasn’t the same person that I maybe should have been at Millwall. But coming back here, I think everyone who knows me really well will have seen the change in my character, as a person.
“I still followed them really closely when I could, when we weren’t playing at the same time. When I was here, the support was a big thing, but even more so when I left. Some of the games were unbelievable.
“I’ve had some good times here in front of big crowds and loud crowds, but given the circumstances, and how well they got behind the team and supported them home and away, was unbelieveable really.
“It would’ve been easy to save your money - the club was relegated. I think that shows how passionate the fans are at this football club. You could see it was going around the English Football League. Everyone was speaking about this club’s fans.”
Barry Bannan’s point to prove
Bannan was a key figure during Wednesday’s last stint in League One, which was ended by promotion via the play-offs in 2023.
His CV speaks for itself - and he has made over 450 appearances for Wednesday - but he still feels he has something to prove.
The Scot said: “I've always had question marks my whole career. You can never settle as a player because that's when you tend to to get caught and people start to take your position, so I'm not naive enough to think that because of what I've done here in the past, it'll make it easy for me this year.
“I'm out to prove that I'm still one of the best players in this league, and I'll do that until the day I finish. And once I'm not the best player, and don't feel as if I'm I'm giving anything, then I know that's my time. But I feel as if I've got a lot to give still as a player at this football club, and I'm out to prove this season that I want to be the best player in League One.”