THE latest football transfer window has come and gone and there have been the usual winners and losers.

The biggest victim seems to be Harry Redknapp who resigned as manager of Queen’s Park Rangers on Tuesday after failing to secure any significant signings for the struggling Loftus Road club.

The urgent need for imminent knee surgery has been flagged up as a key reason for his departure but, with QPR floundering second bottom of the Premier League and chairman Tony Fernandez declaring on Twitter there would be ‘no more cheque book’, the writing was on the wall for the likeable Redknapp.

Nineteen points from 23 games would spell the end for most managers — even someone as affable as the 67-year-old former West Ham winger.

Love them or hate them, the transfer windows certainly sharpen the focus for clubs whether they are challenging for honours at the top of the table or languishing near the bottom.

A lot of managers detest the bi-annual merry-go-round.

They feel it unsettles their players as it gives agents free reign to fuel speculation about possible moves for their stars.

Prices are also inflated as the pressure mounts on clubs to boost their situation and beat the deadline.

They try to come up with signings that could make the difference between avoiding possible relegation and the chance to win that pot of gold at the top of table.

Sky Sports hype the transfer deadlines for all they are worth — even to the extent of colour-coding their studio and presenters — but anti-climax was the name of the game this time around.

Surely, for all concerned in football, it’s time to end this circus and let market forces once again take control in a 12-month free-for-all situation.