Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill has described the transfer window as "nonsense" and a "nightmare".
The window is open from July 1 until September 1, but Cotterill says that it should have closed before the season started on August 7.
"It becomes a nonsense, it really does, dragging into the season," Cotterill told BBC Points West. "I was as stressed as anyone in May and June because we did not sign anyone.
"You may as well have the stress then, rather than the stress of your team playing when the season starts also. You've got double. If you made it before the season started, everybody would know where they are.
"When you're not quite sure what you've got and you're waiting for a player to potentially come and join you, it's a nightmare situation for any manager."
Bristol City have missed out on the signings of Dwight Gayle and Andre Gray this summer.