Sheffield Wednesday management: ‘Bittersweet day’ – What’s next for the Owls as the club enters administration?

Midfielder Barry Bannan has been a solid player for Wednesday’s side since his arrival in 2015 and signed a new contract in August despite the departure of several team-mates, following several delays in paying players and staff wages.

The 35-year-old told BBC Radio Sheffield: “We’ve known for a while that this could be the way things are going to go. Obviously it’s a sad day for the club first and foremost, you don’t really want to go into administration.”

He added: “As a group of players, it has made our job more difficult this season as well, so it was difficult to accept the news but this had to happen. We could not continue with the way things were going.”

“The task gets bigger but I think for the club moving forward, this is probably the right thing to happen.”

Bannan made 460 appearances for the club during his decade-long tenure and understands the fans’ frustration, but stressed the importance of the atmosphere at Hillsborough.

He added: “We got exactly what they were doing, we were never against it as players and staff, we just wanted to play games.”

“I said that when the fans came onto the pitch last week, that was the only bit of joy we had as a group of players and staff were playing at three o’clock on a Saturday.

“We got what they were doing but now we need them more than ever, we’ve needed them all season at home and unfortunately we haven’t really had that atmosphere.

“But now the fans have got what they want, and that’s where we really need them to come out and support us and be that extra guy.”

Banan’s message was echoed in a statement to the players issued through the club’s official channels.

“After a period of division and a feeling of disconnection between the club, players and fans, we hope now is the time when we can come back together under the badge and enjoy football again,” the statement read., external

“So we ask you, starting tomorrow against Oxford, to come back to Hillsborough and cheer for the team. Let us make the ground a place to fear for teams as we do everything we can to get the points we so desperately need.

“Think of the comeback against Peterborough, and the wins over Arsenal and Newcastle. You were in the stands as much as we were on the pitch!

“We will not give up, and we ask you not to give up on us. Together we are stronger. Together we can fight.”