Football fans getting twitchy for the new season to start this month will have to occupy themselves in the meantime by speculating about their club’s summer signings, in this, the richest season of Premier League football ever.

The end of Euro 2016 has kicked off a flurry of movement in the transfer market. This is not just a frantic time for agents, chief executives and medical staff – the influx of new players also marks the beginning of a frenetic period for a little-known but vital figure at most Premier League clubs: the player liaison officer.

Somewhere between a secretary, travel agent and hotel concierge, the player liaison officer deals with everything from players’ welfare to housing and family. Foreign players may need English lessons. Some need a translator running alongside them in training to interpret instructions. This is the player liaison officer’s domain.

Unsurprising, then, that many clubs shield their player liaison officers from the media – they know the squad’s deepest secrets and weirdest requirements.

“There is not much I don’t know about the club,” confirms Pete Barry, player liaison officer at AFC Bournemouth, who has worked there for 16 years. Most of the players are quite down to earth, he says. “They are extremely polite, resourceful and only ask for things when they need them.” But he does add: “Some of these guys do live in a bubble, and we can’t do anything about that.” He once had a player approach him while on a flight to a match, asking him to fix the water pipes at his house. “There’s not a lot I can do at 30,000ft,” was Barry’s reply.

Peter Barry, player liaison officer at AFC Bournemouth. Photograph: AFC Bournemouth - from website

Outside the transfer window, the work is more routine. “It is the little details we deal with,” says Barry, who books matchday travel, ensures passports are in date and handles media appearances so the players can concentrate on their game. “A lot of our work goes unnoticed,” he adds.

In one way, Barry is a welfare counsellor. The players can approach him with any personal issues, such as homesickness or difficulty adjusting to the area. In another, he is a fixer. In May, Bournemouth’s match at Manchester United was called off because of a bomb scare. The rearranged game took place two days later, but there was no travel booked for the players. “Try getting a plane at 24 hours’ notice,” says Barry, adding proudly: “This is where my little black book of contacts comes in.” Give him a problem and a tight deadline, and he will solve it in time. “Working in football is all about the last minute and, once you accept that, it is quite manageable.”

Being constantly on call comes with its costs. Barry does not get proper weekends, unless his team is not playing. He waits for international breaks to take days off. He was afforded some time off at the end of last season, but with transfer business in full swing, now is the busiest time of the year for him. But that’s part of the job. “From now until May,” he says, “I’m on.”