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Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan thinks ‘something needs to change’ for both them and Sheffield United after a ‘tough’ start to the season.
The inner-city rivals make up the bottom two in the Championship, with Wednesday above the pointless Blades. Sheffield Wednesday – who are currently struggling with numerous issues under controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri – beat Portsmouth 2-0 to secure their first win of the campaign on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Barry Bannan and George Brown.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, sacked Ruben Selles earlier this month, and Chris Wilder’s return didn’t stop them from losing their seventh game in a row at Bramall Lane when Charlton Athletic paid a visit.
While Bannan has been busy dealing with his own club’s issues, he has now revealed the impact he thinks Wilder will have on his side’s bitter rivals.
Barry Bannan says something ‘needs to change’ at Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday
Joining talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday, Bannan was asked about United’s nightmare start to the season.
He said: “They find themselves in a tough situation as well, I know they’ve reappointed Chris Wilder so they’ll probably think things will start picking up for them. They’ve got a good squad so I think they’ll probably start picking up points.
“It’s not a good place to be with both teams down near the bottom and it needs to change because it’s such a big footballing city with two big clubs.”
Wilder is now in his third managerial spell at Bramall Lane after growing up supporting them and playing for them, too. He got the Blades to pick up 92 points last season but they missed out on promotion in the play-off final defeat to Sunderland, and he was sacked as a result.
Now, they somehow find themselves below the chaotic Owls, whose owner is running out of time to ensure that both Sheffield Wednesday players and staff are paid and, potentially, a major debt is satisfied too.
Barry Bannan admits pay day issues are ‘hard’ for Sheffield Wednesday players
With pay day looming, Bannan admitted it was becoming ‘hard’ for him to have to issue unwanted updates to Wednesday’s young players about their wages.
“It is hard when it’s coming closer and closer to pay day,” he said, when asked by talkSPORT how he’s finding managing the club’s young squad. “That’s when you get questions from the boys.
“It’s hard to stay focused but we’re enjoying our football as long as we keep winning, we’re just happy the season is up and running.”
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Wednesday host Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, who face the Owls off the back of three wins in a row.