Suketada would have been the best candidate to become lord of the Sawayama-jo Castle, as he had no close ties to the Azai clan, and had previously served as the lord of this castle. (It should be noted that Nobunaga selected suitable persons taking into consideration their territorial affiliations.)
浅井の息のかかり方が浅くなおかつ佐和山を領していた過去を持つ小川氏の当主であり、実力にも申し分ない祐忠が同城主へ復帰させられる理由は十分にある（信長の人材登用には地縁の要素を熟慮した人選がなされていることは注目すべきである）。