Reading boss Steve Coppell has slammed the transfer windows system.

"I don't anticipate losing any of my players," Coppell told BBC Radio 5 Live. "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."