The Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan once named Tony Pulis as one of the worst two managers he has had, based on the way he plays.
Pulis is believed to be one of at least three bosses in talks to succeed Garry Monk at Wednesday, according to BBC Sport’s Ian Dennis.
Bannan played under the 62-year-old at Crystal Palace, although he appeared on just 11 occasions over a nine-month period.
And speaking to Open Goal last year, the Owls talisman offered the following insight into the pair’s relationship.
“Tony Pulis came in, so right up my street,” Bannan said, sarcastically.
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“To be fair, he was that honest with me it was unreal. He grabbed me in half way through the season and was like, if I was managing a team that was going to play football you would be the first name in my team but we’re fighting for our lives so…
“To be honest, I don’t mind that. If you’re going to pull me in and tell me that reason, I don’t mind it. So I knew from then on that this wasn’t going to be the club for me.
“I can safely say that the two managers that came in during my time there, after Holloway (Pulis and Neil Warnock), were probably, in my eyes, the worst managers for the way I play.”
Bannan is widely regarded as Wednesday’s best and most influential player and it is hard to see any incoming manager overlooking the 30-year-old.
But the Owls’ decision could have a significant bearing on Bannan’s future at Hillsborough beyond the end of this season, when his contract is due to expire.
Pulis has been out of work since May 2019, when Middlesbrough failed to renew his contract after a poor run of results saw them drop out of the Championship play-off positions.
The Welshman did however win 44 per cent of his games in charge of Middlesbrough.
He also has promotions with Bournemouth and Stoke City on his CV, after which he gained a reputation for keeping clubs in the Premier League rather than guiding them to it.
Sheffield Wednesday’s players are understood to be off until Thursday and are next in action at Preston North End next Saturday.
