I am glad to see the penny has dropped...
I agree with everything you say about our negotiating team.
But 'time up' is not at the end of the window..it was in time for the season to start.
Our winning start has papered over the fact that we have dithered over several potential targets, and eventually lost out.
We nearly lost Cork at one stage.
This is not new to this window, it's been happening since Cortese and Reed took over the responsibility from Pardew.
As you said Nigel Adkins must be pulling his hair out.