Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, has attacked the transfer window, saying it breeds panic and encourages “scurrilous” transfer activity.

Coppell has called for the window to be scrapped in favour of the previous system, where deals could be struck throughout the season until the closing weeks and is far from happy he has already had to deal with speculation that Stephen Hunt, Leroy Lita and Nicky Shorey could depart the Madejski Stadium in the coming month.

“I don’t anticipate losing any of my players,” Coppell said. “But I’ve had a couple of what I’d call scurrilous inquiries.

“I cannot see the logic in a transfer window. It brings on a fire-sale mentality, causes unrest via the media and means clubs buy too many players.”

Coppell added: “The old system, where if you had a problem you could look at loans or make a short-term purchase, was far better than this system we have at the moment.

“Nobody has ever explained to me what the benefit [of a transfer window] is and people are putting in faxed offers when they’ve already been told there’s no interest.

“The old way of doing business, where a verbal response was sufficient, is now being ignored.”

Coppell did, however, get one boost yesterday with the news that Marcus Hahnemann, his goalkeeper, has signed a new contract.

The United States international has been automatically renewed due to a clause stipulating there would be an extension as soon as he reached 20 league games this season.