Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has hit out at a transfer window system which severely restricts his options in strengthening his Villa Park squad.
O'Neill is hoping to bring in a couple of new faces in the New Year, but accepts that doing good business in January can prove tricky.
He commented: "Do I like the transfer window? Not particularly.
"I think what it does do is point everyone into this supposed window of opportunity and sometimes you are panicked into things.
"After January 31 a manager is not able to do anything until the end of the season. He has that in his mind.
"Before this the system was okay. I am not a fan of this one and I am not so sure many people are.
"In January I think it is difficult to get the quality players you think are capable of doing a big job for the club for the next four or five years."