KEITH Curle’s response was frank when asked after the weekend’s loss to Grimsby Town about what needed to change at Latics for the club to progress: “New players”.

The current crop seem to display the odd moment in which they play well as a cohesive unit, but the vast majority of performances fail to impress.

Curle was right to lament about the need for new personnel, and if he is given a new contract, then he needs to receive adequate backing in the summer window.

The club need to try to tie down Conor McAleny, but his performances in front of goal have likely positioned him as a player of interest to teams in higher divisions. At the same time, keeping hold of Dylan Bahamboula is a must.

When it comes to other attacking players, then looking to the academy would be the right idea.

Harry Vaughan has seemed to be a bright spark when he has been given game time and fits what is needed behind the main striker.

He divides opinion, but the club were right to extend the contract of Dylan Fage.

In comparison to when Harry Kewell was head coach, he’s excelled on the wing under Curle where he is relied upon to a lesser extent defensively and is instead able to utilise his pace when running at defences.

The defence has been the key worry this season.

If we had scored the number of goals we have while conceding less, then our league performance would have been far better.

An experienced central defender – like a certain player who was under contract for a large portion of this season – would be the perfect addition.

Harry Clarke has expressed a fondness for the club and it would be great to bring him in on loan once again, but if not then somebody of a similar style to him would fit well alongside Carl Piergianni and the hypothetical new defender. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is also set to depart but would be a good one to keep.

Laurie Walker hasn’t been given a look-in at MK Dons and would be a positive signing for Latics.

In recent years we have seemed to have a reliance on loanees for goalkeepers, but maybe that should change. In the middle of the park, somebody will have big boots to fill in place of Alfie McCalmont. He will definitely be playing in a higher division next year but a player of his ilk could hopefully carry over the role.

What matters the most is that the board gives Curle free reign to bring in what’s needed. He’s proved he knows this division, so let him make the decisions.