"I do think it has made it more panicky now than it is ever was before," says Tony of the transfer window.
"It absolutely drives you mad, doesn't it? You get panic buys and all the time if you are waiting for a player to come up like we had to last season when Ian Pearce was playing up front because of injuries and we couldn't buy anyone until the window, it is a bit of a struggle."
Ironically, one newspaper that stated Jermain Defoe was leaving for Manchester United 'by the end of the week' [this was last summer] and has variously, in common with other publications, insisted he was on his way in January, has realised that a player under 24 still requires a fee for his services if his contract has come to an end.
"We all know Jermain's contract is up in 18 months," says Tony, "so the clock goes ticking away and teams are aware of the length of contract he has got left - so there is a decision to be made.
"But the club have offered him contracts, he knows where he stands there, and he doesn't want to sign, so it is a big decision for the club - do they keep him?
"Hopefully he will score the goals to get us out of this division but if we don't do they sell him this summer?
"It is not the case, though, that the club will get nothing if he goes at the end of the contract - because of his age it will go to a tribunal if his deal is up, so we should still get a few million for him there.
"A lot of people have overlooked that, and if you look at David Bellion - who signed for Manchester United from Sunderland in the same kind of circumstances - it was settled out of court for £2m before it actually went to a tribunal.
"Now, if Jermain Defoe isn't better than David Bellion, I will eat my hat, and so we should get more than that.
"I don't know how much but I would guess £4m or £5 at a tribunal."
Tony is backing Jermain to return refreshed when his five match ban ends and he adds:
"Let's hope he doesn't get sent off again and he gets his head down and proves to everyone what we all know - that he is a very, very talented boy.
"But it is one thing being talented; you have got to prove it week in, week out."
Meanwhile, asked to pick a player of 2003 amongst those that have stayed at the club throughout a turbulent year, Tony says:
"That has put me on the spot, but I would say David James.
"We went down and people will say 'how come you are picking a goalkeeper?' blah blah blah - but I would say, for someone who stayed for whole year, Jamo.
"Unfortunately, someone we are missing is Rufus Brevett - let's hope he can get fit again."