the head coach says the type of player he wants and the SD/DOF signs them.
the recruitment team don't just buy random players and expect the HC to deal with it
Why is having never been a pro footballer an issue?
The Germans have pioneered it but loads of people instead of slogging on with what would be a atbest meh playing career take up coaching at an earlier age.
We are a lot more attractive than we were then, also non uk coaches will look at us as a way of getting in to English football.
There are top coaches in euro leagues smaller than ours