Reading boss Coppell expects no departures in January

"I don't anticipate losing any of my players (in the January window)," 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."

The transfer window was made compulsory for Premier League clubs by football's world governing body Fifa during the 2002/03 season.

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The system has also applied to Football League and top-flight Conference clubs since the summer of 2005.

There are two windows each year, one from the end of the season until 31 August and another spanning the whole of January.

But Coppell, who dismissed reports that full-back Nicky Shorey and midfielder Stephen Hunt would be leaving the Madejski Stadium, believes the old way was better.

"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," said Coppell.

"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."