Yeates: Blackpool shouldn't be near the bottom

The winger has started all fives games since moving to Bloomfield Road last month, and he is preparing to return to former club Oldham tomorrow.

Blackpool’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better since he and Danny Philliskirk made the switch from Boundary Park, but Yeates insists they shouldn’t take all the praise.

He said: “Since we have come in, the side has been on a good run but that’s not just down to us.

“We have helped bring something else to the squad but I am surprised they were down there in the first place as there are some good players at the club.

“Tom Aldred at the back has been quality and was nominated for League One player of the month in December and January. We seem to keep a lot of clean sheets.

“We are in a good little spell but we’re still right down there. This is as big a game for us as it is for Oldham.”

The 31-year-old signed for Latics last August on a short-term contract which ran out at the end of the year.

After impressing at Boundary Park, Oldham hoped to keep him only for Pool to swoop. And Yeates admits he could have been lining up against the Seasiders tomorrow and not for them.

He explained: “My short-term deal was coming to the end and (then manager) David Dunn had spoken to me in person, saying he wanted to keep me, but there wasn’t much development after that and I was just waiting.

“A couple of clubs had shown interest with the window open, though I had made it clear that if Oldham were able to offer me something I would have been delighted to stay. But I was offered an 18-month deal at Blackpool, and for me and my family it was right to move on.

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“But I got on great with everyone at Oldham and was enjoying my time. I had a good spell when I was in the side.

“But I could not really turn down the opportunity on the table here. I still have good pals at Oldham and I wish them all the best.”

Oldham are third-bottom of League One, four places and nine points behind Pool with two games in hand.

But Yeates expects plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

He said: “The division is very competitive from top to bottom. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the current top three at the start of the season.

“We just have to try to win as many games as we can.”