It is a myth that Mellon could not recruit. He did not have money to spend in a number of transfer windows, unlike Brabin and Jackson.
In his final January window he brought in Vaughan, Cook, Woodyard and Clarke. Hardly a bunch of duffers. In the previous January he signed Perkins, Morris, Pringle and Nelson, all of whom were crucial to the promotion that season.
He also brought Norburn, Ellis, Monthe, McCullough and others to the club. Brabin brought a large number of duds to the club, which is often forgotten.
If we have to wait over a month to appoint Challinor, I am not sure that deal is feasible.