CARDIFF City and Swansea City today both hit out at Nottingham Forest, accusing them of trying to 'tap up' their players.

Reds chief executive Mark Arthur said over the weekend that the club were making progress towards signing the Cardiff winger Peter Whittingham and Swansea midfielder Darren Pratley.

And he suggested both players were keen on a move to the City Ground.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones was particularly riled by that claim, labelling it an 'absolute disgrace'.

While Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins accused Forest of breaching Football League rules.

Forest have had two offers for Whittingham turned down and Jones insists the player, who scored 25 goals last season, wants to stay at the club.

"I have never had a go at anybody in football," said Jones. "But if that's not blatant tapping up, I don't know what is.

"He must be talking to Whitt's brother because, when I talk to Whitts there is no way he wants to leave this football club.

"If I did that to one of their players, I wonder how they would feel."

While Jenkins also hit out, claiming that Pratley does not favour a move to Forest either.

"It's complete rubbish and we will have to discuss whether we take action," said Jenkins.

"Someone has to take a stand against this sort of thing. When someone is that blatant, we have to stand up for ourselves.

"Perhaps Forest think we are a small club and, because they won some trophies a few decades ago, they can walk all over us.

"I can assure everyone that is not the case. We will only sell a player when the deal is right for us.

"I just can't understand why the authorities are not stronger about this. Legally, the only time a player can talk to other clubs is if we accept an offer.

"It makes you wonder what contracts are for nowadays. If a player wants to leave should we just rip up his contract?

"This sort of thing takes us down a route no-one wants. There's no stability for anyone, especially not players, if contracts become meaningless."

Jenkins also accused Forest of trying to tap up Pratley.

"That's exactly what it is," he said.

"We know these things go on behind closed doors, and it's not right, but for someone to come out and more or less confirm it is very alarming.

"It's just a tactic to try and unsettle the player. They don't want him to perform for us so that, in the end, we decide to give Darren away for nothing.

"But we don't work that way and we won't be bullied. If a player has a contract, they are our player until we decide otherwise.

"Forest have to pay us what we think Darren is worth, not what they want to pay.

"If you want to buy a house you don't go in, offer half the asking price and expect to have it accepted."

Jenkins says Arthur is highly regarded within football circles – but remained disappointed with his comments.

"He (Arthur) is a quite highly-regarded part of the Football League set-up and is always on different committees and panels.

"So he knows the rules and regulations better than most," he said.