AGGBOROUGH boss Mark Yates has reacted angrily to criticism from Rochdale manager Steve Parkin over his handling of their bid for Kidderminster's top-scorer Iyseden Christie.

Yates admitted Rochdale made an offer which was around the asking price the Harriers board have set for the 13-goal hitman.

However, Yates declined to respond to Parkin's enquiry by the deadline he had set, much to the Rochdale manager's displeasure.

Parkin said: "For one reason or another Kidderminster have not got back to us regarding Christie despite us agreeing a fee for the player.

"It's no fault of the player himself, but I'm bitterly disappointed his club haven't been back in touch."

But Yates hit back at this, saying he will not stand for other people dictating to him what will happen with his players.

He said: "No deal was done with Rochdale over Iyseden and I am not very happy with the way their manager spoke about us.

"He gave me a 7pm deadline at the end of last week to get back to him by if a deal could be done.

"I didn't get back to him and as far as I am concerned Iyseden, who was immense against Scarborough on Saturday, is a Harriers player and I want to keep it that way."

However, Yates was not quite as staunch in his commitment to keeping skipper Mark Jackson at the club.

He said: "As far as Mark is concerned, things remain the same.

"He remains a Kidderminster Harriers player until anything else happens. Unless I get the right offer for him, he is not going anywhere.

"I have got plenty of people in mind who I'd like to bring in, it is just a matter of deciding which ones are the right ones," added Yates.

"The squad is too big at the moment so I need to move a few players on to get it to a level that I want to work with."