Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday Legend Barry Bannan Poised for Exit as Wage Crisis Deepens

Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Barry Bannan is edging towards the Hillsborough exit door along with manager Danny Rohl, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The former Scotland international midfielder has grown increasingly disillusioned with the ongoing financial instability at Hillsborough.

Unpaid player wages has left the club in hot water with the club placed under a Football League transfer embargo for failing to pay staff in full for May.

And widely-criticised Thai owner Dejphon Chansiri has been charged by the Football Association for his handle of the matter, the second time this year players and non-playing staff have not been paid their wages.

Our sources have learnt that the 35-year-old Owls legend is weighing up offers to leave after over a decade of loyal service at the club.

Bannan has amassed an impressive 447 appearances for the Owls since signing from Bolton Wanderers back in August 2015 on an initial one-year deal.

But the former Aston Villa ace is set to leave on a free transfer at the end of the month having not signed a new contract to stay.

It is believed Bannan had agreed a new contract in principle, but the ongoing saga has now led the 27-cap international to entertain a move away from South Yorkshire.

Newly-promoted Wrexham have already been linked with the player, while SportsBoom understands Coventry City, Stoke City and Derby County are closely monitoring the situation and have made initial enquiries about signing Bannan, player they would happily swoop to sign as a bargain summer purchase.

LOYAL SERVANT

Bannan has played eight seasons for the Owls in the Championship and famously starred in the side which won promotion back to the second tier via the League Play-offs in a memorable 2022-23 season.

He has been a mainstay of the side throughout his career and a talismanic captain adored by the club’s loyal supporters.

But manager Rohl has clashed with owner Chansiri and has been openly chasing new jobs this summer.

To make matters worse the Professional’ Footballers’ Association (PFA) have slammed the club for not paying staff.

They said recently in a statement: “Continued and ongoing delays to player and staff wages are unacceptable and need to be addressed without further delay." 

“We will be continuing to support our members at Sheffield Wednesday until this situation is properly resolved.”

SportsBoom understands a number of other out-of-contract players are also set to leave unless the club’s ownership, missed wages and manager uncertainty is resolved.