Sheffield Wednesday

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

As I was sat watching a tearful Barry Bannan waving goodbye to the Sheffield Wednesday fans, it all felt a little bit surreal.

The Scot had just completed his 477th appearance for the Owls. Why, after such a long and popular spell at the club, was this unfolding like this?

We know he told team-mates prior to the game this was going to be his final match. Multiple reports said he was bound for Millwall, with the Telegraph even reporting a medical had been scheduled with the London club for Sunday.

Yet on Saturday morning there had been no official approach from Millwall. I checked with sources just before kick-off. No change. Still no approach.

Even with that information, which was confirmed by the Sheffield Star, none of us were viewing this through the lens that a move would not happen. Clearly it would. That was confirmed with the emotional full-time scenes.

But it's a curious set of events, isn't it? A club legend announcing his departure to team-mates, with that being broadly reported, there being an emotional farewell to a small number of away fans and all the while the club he was said to be joining had not made an official approach.

Meanwhile, the club seemingly had to tiptoe around the situation pre-Bristol City. There were no posts on X marking the occasion, no tributes, no ability to focus on the event that had been widely reported. What could they do? Nothing, because there had been no approach.

After the game, manager Henrik Pedersen said Bannan wanted to leave Wednesday, citing "the whole situation" as the reason. He also said the club captain and his representative were speaking to the club to find a resolution.

This has been a hellish season for the players. The squad is threadbare and no doubt they are physically and mentally drained.

It should also be noted that when Bannan committed to return to Wednesday in the summer, he did so within a financial framework that limited his earning ability. He's been playing for months for a wage far lower than he would have got elsewhere.

But just like that, a brilliant Owls career is seemingly over.

A rare partnership between supporters and a beloved player ended in the rain 180 miles from Sheffield, with about 1,800 fans there to see it and the whole thing playing out like a badly-kept secret.

Why did Bannan want to leave the club now? Is it simply the toll this miserable season is taking on him and his team-mates, or is there more to it?

Why has a move apparently been arranged without actual contact between any clubs, with no permission given for talks to take place? Was there a better way to do this?

Given Bannan's history with Wednesday, I think it's fair to ask these questions. It's the latest gut-punch for Wednesday fans in a season that is testing them in a way that can only be described as deeply unfair.

Portsmouth are confident they can secure Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson's signature this winter despite already having a bid for the 27-year-old Swede rejected. (The News), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Millwall, Wrexham and Rangers are interested in signing 26-year-old Tunisia right-back Yan Valery from Sheffield Wednesday. (The Star), external

Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Friday's gossip column here.

Bristol City will be favourites to end a three-match winless streak in the Championship when they host bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Wednesday's only league win of the season so far did come on the road but it was back in September when they won 2-0 at Portsmouth.

Since that day they have taken only seven points from a possible 63.

• Bristol City will be looking to complete just a third ever league double over Wednesday following the 1971-72 and 2007-08 campaigns after winning the reverse fixture 3-0 back in September last year.

• Wednesday have failed to score in any of their past three away league games against Bristol City, never before have the Owls failed to score in four in succession.

• Bristol City have won each of their past two league games against the two teams from Sheffield (United and Wednesday) and will be looking to win three in a season against them for just the second time after doing so in the 2007-08 campaign.

• Bristol City have failed to score in each of their past three league games, last having a longer run without a goal in February 2021 (4 games).

• Wednesday are winless in their past 21 league games, their longest ever run (D7 L14). It is also the fourth longest run without a win in a single second tier campaign after Cambridge United (31 in 1983-84), Barnsley (23 in 1952-53) and Darwen (27 in 1898-99).

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

Much of the talk this week at Sheffield Wednesday has been about potential player sales.

Several clubs are monitoring striker Bailey Cadamarteri and the Sheffield Star reported on Tuesday that Chelsea are close to signing impressive youngster Yisa Alao.

Captain Barry Bannan could leave the club in this window too. There was more than a hint of an emotional farewell when the veteran midfielder exited the pitch against Birmingham.

Fans have started to question what this means. Is it connected to the status of takeover attempts by a consortium led by James Bord?

My understanding of the situation is as follows:

It's very unlikely the EFL's owners and directors' tests will be concluded before the end of January. Nothing is imminent there.

As such, irrespective of any confidence the administrators might have in the deal being concluded, they still have to manage accordingly.

Even if their confidence was very high in everything passing smoothly, they cannot risk the alternative scenario — the test being failed and there being a sudden cashflow shortfall, with the prospective new owners no longer required to fund the losses of the club.

The only available window to prepare for that eventuality is January. Once the transfer deadline passes, there's no opportunity to raise funds through player sales.

It's far from an ideal situation but one the people tasked with keeping the club running have to contend with.

What happens to the money from player sales? My understanding is it funds cash flow, if and when necessary. Then, it would become part of something called 'administration realisations' that effectively go to creditors.

On top of this, the preferred bidder will have negotiated a clause in the agreement that means they would expect the purchase price of Sheffield Wednesday to reduce when player assets are sold.

This means for every amount raised, for example £1m on a player sale, the new owners would have to pay £1m less to buy the club.

Any add-ons attached to a transfer go towards the club after administration, not the administration estate.

Some supporters have questioned why alternative means of fundraising aren't being pursued instead - such as a ticket-sale and merchandise drive, as was the case when the club originally went into administration back in October.

In the past few weeks the club had a stall at the city's Christmas Market. Merchandise stock was reduced in price over January. Half-season tickets have been sold, along with four-match packages.

There have been other offers too for members, a £15 price cap for the Brentford FA Cup game and further offers for upcoming matches such as Millwall's visit to Hillsborough.

Player sales still need to be considered, with uncertainty over the future of the club remaining. In just over 10 days that stops being a possibility for Sheffield Wednesday when the window shuts.

It's not ideal but nothing is when a club enters administration.

It appears to be a classic case of covering all bases - hoping for the best but planning for the worst.

Image source, Shutterstock

Norwich City are working on a deal to sign teenage defender Harry Amass on loan from Manchester United.

The 18-year-old left-back spent the first half of the season on loan with the Championship's bottom side Sheffield Wednesday before returning to United earlier this month.

But it is understood Amass, who made 21 appearances for the Owls, will not be going back to Hillsborough.

Stoke City and Watford were reportedly also interested in taking the England Under-19 international on loan but a move to the Canaries is now believed to be close.

Amass won consecutive player of the month awards for November and December at Wednesday and scored one goal.

Image source, Shutterstock

All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has praised his side despite a 2-0 loss to Birmingham City at Hillsborough on Tuesday.

Blues broke through in the 83rd minute before doubling their lead in added time to take the three points, but the Dane was pleased with how his injury-ravaged team performed.

"I think the boys gave everything. It doesn't matter if we should come 1-0 up or 1-0 down, we should just keep going and I think the boys did that to the end today," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"There was a much better reaction after the 1-0. We were on top of the game after the 1-0.

"One of things that was a theme before the first game was that we need to take bigger risks if we want to create more when we come high up on the pitch. So today were really aggressive in our pressing, the best pressing game we've had.

"Today we were a little bit better to keep the ball when we wanted and we were better to play with a more risk.

"We need to take more risk to create more and I thought the boys did that really well."

Image source, Shutterstock

Defenders Sean Fusire and Yisa Alao have become the latest players to join an increasing injury list at Sheffield Wednesday.

Zimbabwe international Fusire is expected to be out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, reports BBC Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings., external

Teenage left-back Alao, meanwhile, could be sidelined for three weeks after coming off with an unspecified issue just after the hour in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Portsmouth.

Wednesday are now without 14 first-team players heading into their Championship fixture with Birmingham City at Hillsborough tonight.

Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City will both be in desperate need of a win when they face each other at Hillsborough on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

Blues have not won any of their past eight league games on the road, though they did end a spell of four straight away losses with a 1-1 draw against Swansea City last time out.

Whereas for the Owls, winning at all has been a rarity this season.

Their one and only league win came on the 20 September against Portsmouth and they have not tasted victory since.

• This will be the 100th league meeting between Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City, with the Owls winning 35 and losing 37 of the 99 to date (D27).

• Birmingham City have lost just two of their last 11 league meetings with Sheffield Wednesday (W5 D4), although one of those was their last away from home, going down 2-0 in February 2024.

• Sheffield Wednesday have failed to win any of their last five league games against newly promoted sides (D3 L2), their longest run against such opposition since December 2018 (6).

• Sheffield Wednesday have only lost one of their last 10 league games played on a Tuesday (W4 D5), although that was their last at home, going down 0-1 to Blackburn in December 2024.

• Birmingham have won 11 of their last 14 league games played on a Tuesday (D1 L2), although did lose their last 2-1 to QPR in December.

Millwall are reportedly rivalling Stoke City and Preston North End to sign veteran midfielder Barry Bannan from Sheffield Wednesday, but Owls boss Henrik Pedersen is hopeful the 36-year-old will stay at the club. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Sheffield Wednesday striker Bailey Cadamarteri, 20, is the subject of interest from Hibernian, while fellow Scottish side Rangers are keen on 28-year-old defender Max Lowe. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen believed his side played well in defeat to Portsmouth, but admits they need to create more chances.

Adrian Segecic's second half goal condemned the bottom club to another defeat, with Pompey, 21st in the Championship, 35 points ahead.

The Owls were facing the only team they have beaten this season, but only mustered one shot on target.

"Generally, it was very equal. First half, we brought a lot of intensity from the beginning," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"Our pressing was really good and we brought a lot of interceptions high up the pitch. We played more transitions than normal, and we had more possibilities but we didn't create that big chance.

"We were good on the ball, maybe too brave sometimes but the boys are brave and this is what we want. We had more situations where we sped up the game and more situations around the box."

Pedersen has challenged the team to become more threatening in attack, but is encouraged by their play in possession.

"The challenge is to make possibilities into chances and chances into big chances. We need to improve that last part.

"We didn't have the power to come back in the game after the goal. I can see development with the ball, but to be effective on the ball, we have to develop how we break the lines."