Who are they and what do they do? How do you think it works?

Max Watters being brought in and not being played.
Wintle now having been brought in on a free and being released on loan without being given a chance.

I'm now reading that Marley Watkins was looking at a move here but that a longer deal was blocked by the chairman.

How do we manage to bring players through the door without any intention to play them?
How does a manager want a new addition, like the player or not, and be told by a non footballing man that he can't come?