I can't agree with your argument, some of the decent players he brought in have gone because the owners failed to obtain a transfer before their contract ran out. Others like Best & Juke went for a mark up, that is necessary business.
Who did he bring into the current team? Baker, MacDonald, Deegan, Keogh & Murphy probably, Bell & Wood and Eastwood, were they recommended by Thorn or Coleman? Platt, was a Bothroyd man, McSheff, Clingan & Cranie, hardly unknowns.
Meanwhile a few players he identified & brought in like Henderson & Madine are doing OK, they didn't want to stay here.
McPake & ROD, probably count as failures as it stands, they've gone on loan, might be back next year.
Anyway there are several issues here
1) AT didn't make the final decision under previous managerial regimes
2) Neither you or I know details of the decision making process for any particular player
3) AT isn't being funded to bring in the players he really wants
To conclude, we are in the c**p, the situation is disappointing, but we are in the dark about so much. I couldn't really say who is to blame exactly.