Josh Windass has revealed what Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan messaged him before signing a new contract.
Josh Windass recently committed his future to Sheffield Wednesday, after his previous contract expired at the end of June.
Windass, 30, will now enter his fifth full season as a permanent Owls player and he’ll look to add to his impressive tally of 40 goals so far.
The former Rangers man scored six goals in the 2023/24 Championship campaign with three of those coming in the final three games of the season.
Windass scored crucial goals in each of the final three games to help Sheffield Wednesday achieve an eventual 20th place finish in the Championship.
There was back and forth over whether or not Windass would remain at Hillsborough for the 2024/25 season, with West Brom among the teams to have shown an interest in signing the striker.
But he’s since put pen-to-paper on a new Sheffield Wednesday deal.
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Barry Bannan message to Josh Windass ahead of signing new Sheffield Wednesday contract
Speaking from the club’s pre-season training camp at St George’s Park recently, Windass discussed signing new Sheffield Wednesday contract.
Windass revealed that club captain Barry Bannan, who also signed a new contract this summer, messaged him in a bid to tempt him into staying in S6.
Windass told journalist Joe Crann: “Baz text me a couple times. Just saying, ‘When you left Rangers, you regretted it, so you’ll regret it when you leave here’.
“He’s right. Leaving big clubs, you always end up feeling a bit sad afterwards. It was an easy decision, but there was business stuff that needed to be sorted.”
One thing will be in the back of Danny Rohl’s mind ahead of next summer at Sheffield Wednesday
Rohl, now under a three-year contract, may have a thought on the transfer windows beyond this one, and what his Sheffield Wednesday side might look like in years to come.
And one thing that might be on his mind is what Sheffield Wednesday will look like when players like Bannan leave.
Bannan is thought to be out of contract again next summer and his recent coaching courses may suggest that he’s eyeing up that route in football, when his playing career finishes.
Replacing not only his quality but his presence among the side will be difficult; Windass’ comments show just how much of a positive influence that Bannan has on the rest of the players.
It may be inevitable that Bannan stays on or later returns to Sheffield Wednesday in a coaching capacity, and possibly work with Rohl and bring an element of stability to the club, after almost 10 years of service.