KEITH Hill has launched a stinging broadside against Swindon Town’s transfer policy, stoking the flames ahead of tonight’s League One clash.

The Dale boss is not happy with the amount of loan players in the Swindon squad, currently six, albeit with Louis Thompson on the long-term injury list.

Hill does not believe that a club at Swindon’s level should be a ‘feeder club’ for those further up the pyramid and would consider any potential Town promotion as an ‘infringement of the rules’.

The former Barnsley boss would like to see loan rules tightened up to avoid scenarios like the one at the County Ground occurring.

Dale have had six players on loan this season, but none for longer than five months. Hill indicated that Swindon’s current set-up gives them an unfair advantage.

“It will be a tough ask against Swindon but you can design any side you want when you get the amount of loan signings that they’ve got,” said Hill.

“I like Mark and I like what he’s doing with his team, I think they’re an excellent team, but from a football club’s perspective, if they were to get promoted with the many loan signings that they’ve got - for me that’s an infringement of the rules.

“I don’t think it should be a facility for football clubs, it’s almost advocating and designing these feeder clubs if that’s the case, and I think something should be done about it personally.”

Rochdale are four points behind Chesterfield, the team who are currently occupying the final play-off spot and have played a game more.

The Dale boss is still targeting promotion. After Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Doncaster, Hill remained determined to do everything he could to that end.

“We’ve got five games left. I don’t know where it’s going to go,” he added “I don’t know what Chesterfield are going to do, Bradford are going to do, what Peterborough are going to do. I do know what we’re trying to design.

“Looking at our fixtures, starting with Swindon, it’s going to be difficult, but I want the players to try and take the challenge on. I’m taking it on as a manager.

“We’ve got to try and design success and that’s what we’re trying to achieve. We’re in a position where we can actually get in the play-off but why not go for it?”