What if a team wanted to hire a superb designer for the last half of a season, could super low morale and unsigned staff not jump at the chance to work for an inflated wage?
The current system for hiring staff is not good. You approach and negotiate with someone, offer them a contract - all good. But every time they are offered a contract their decision date goes back - making the market stagnant. Once the person is offered their first contract a decision date should be set, then if other managers offer contracts the best offer will be chosen (I presume). There should also be a way of training staff or heads of department being able to mentor juniors - as things stand I don't if staff are able to improve, let alone how to help them improve.
I agree that the decision date should come quicker.
e.g. When the staff has changed his mind 5 times, he has come to a decision and will reveal on X day. There should be no turned back however many offers he receives.