Blackpool anger as they close in on Rotherham United forward Jerry Yates

The Seasiders are expected to win the race for the 23-year-old but have faced competition from Swindon Town who won promotion from League Two during the attacker's prolific loan spell withthem last season.

Blackpool are unhappy that Town have spoken publicly about their interest in Yates, describing it as tantamount to "tapping up".

“I just don’t see what you get out of talking about other club’s players," Seasiders chief executive Ben Mansford told the Blackpool Gazette.

“When there’s a blatant situation where someone is talking about another club’s player then I think it borders on tapping up and I’d rather not do it. It’s actually not right under the regulations.

“I don’t like talking about another club’s player and I would be really frustrated and disappointed if another club spoke about one of our players."

Blackpool had an initial six-figure offer for Yates rejected ten days ago but are then thought to have moved close to an agreement with the Millers just as Swindon were tabling a bid of their own.

If everything goes smoothly, Yates could be a Blackpool player within a matter of days.

Mansford added: “What I can say is that a lot of work has been done and he’s the type of player that you would want to attract to your football club.

“We’ve got to respect that he’s another club’s player but when a deal is done it’ll be on the club website.

“Our hard work will get us what we want, not sounding off in the media or trying to put pressure on clubs, players or agents. That’s not going to get us the deal.

“Getting a deal done with a bright, young player is selling them what we’re about and showing them we’re a proper football club and showing them our ambition for the future.

“That will get us players, not chatting in the media.”

Yates has a year left on his contract at AESSEAL New York Stadium but the Millers are ready to cash in now on a player who has never been a first-team regular with them.

Last term, he bagged 14 goals in 35 matches during Swindon's promotion push.