Time will tell if it’s a decision that comes off or one that backfires badly.
Here’s what the top 10 promotion contenders in League One were up to in January.
Every other club made at least one new signing.
Completed deals as at 11.30pm, February 1.
1.
HULL CITY: Current League One position: 1st. Ins: Max Clark (Vitesse Arnham, free), Dan Crowley (Birmingham, loan, pictured), Jordy de Wijs (QPR, loan), Jordan Flores (Dundalk, undisclosed), Gavin Whyte (Cardiff, loan). Outs: Dan Batty (Fleetwood). Jackson Irvine (Hibs, undisclosed), Martin Samuelsen (Aaalborg, loan). Tigers boss Grant McCann has recruited well again with Crowley and Whyte excellent signings. They look a good bet for promotion. January business rating: 8/10. Photo: Getty Images. Photo: Getty Images Europe
2.
LINCOLN CITY: Current League One position: 2nd. Ins: Cohen Bramall (Colchester, undisclosed), Regan Poole (MK Dons, undisclosed, pictured), Morgan Rogers (Man City, loan), Max Sanders (Brighton, undisclosed). Outs: Zack Elbouzedi (Bolton loan), Max Melbourne (Walsall, loan). A flurry of late transfer window action for the Imps who also tied down star man Jorge Grant on a longer contract.They're having a go. January business rating 7/10. Photo: Getty Images. Photo: Midlands
3.
DONCASTER ROVERS: Current League One position: 3rd. Ins: Ellery Balcombe (Brentford, loan), Omar Bogle (Charlton, free, pictured), John Bostock (unattached), Scott Robertson (Celtic, loan), Josh Sims (Southampton, loan), Elliott Simoes (Barnsley, loan). Outs: Ben Whiteman (Preston, undisclosed). I did think the departure of influential midfielder Whiteman would be terminal for Rovers' promotion chances, but getting Sims back for a second spell on loan is huge and if Bostock can recapture his best form they could push the automatic promotion chances. Not sure about Bogle's arrival though. January business rating 7/10. Photo: Pete Norton Getty Images Photo: Worthing
4.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Current League One position: 4th. Ins: None. Outs: Ryan Broom (Burton, loan), Serhat Tasdemir (Oldham, loan). Have Posh missed a trick by not boosting a squad that looked fatigued on Saturday with fresher players? Time will tell, but I suspect so. The departure of Broom was a surprise, but they did keep hold of star men Siriki Dembele (pictured) and Jack Taylor. January business rating 5/10. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com. Photo: www.jmpuk.com