KEITH Curle says it will be a case of quality, not quantity, when it comes to any loan signings for Oldham Athletic next season.

Latics used a total of nine loans last season, which Curle felt was too many, particularly when only five are allowed to be named in a matchday squad at any one time.

One loan arrival included his first signing for the club when he secured goalkeeper Laurie Walker on an emergency deal from MK Dons after Ian Lawlor, who had been signed on a season-long loan from Doncaster Rovers, had been ruled out for the season with a training ground injury soon after Curle's appointment in March.

Latics also offered the platform for Premier League youngsters to cut their teeth in professional football, providing vital Football League experience for Leeds United's Alfie McCalmont, who has since been called up for the Northern Ireland squad for their international challenge matches against Malta and Ukraine, and Arsenal Under 23s defender Harry Clarke.

But while the former Carlisle and Northampton boss insists loans can serve an important purpose for both the recipients and the parent clubs, as well as the individuals themselves, he intends to be more cautious about how they are utilised next season.

"When I walked in the building we had seven/eight loans which can cause different issues at a football club," said Curle, who agreed a two-year deal to stay on as Latics head coach earlier this week.

"I think seven or eight loans is too many but if you get the opportunity to bring in a player or players that we've identified and think can add to the squad I'm not averse to it.

"You can bring players in with experience and sometimes players need that experience.

"Some of the players that we brought in last season, if you look at Alfie McCalmont - first loan out of Leeds, Harry Clarke - first loan out of Arsenal, then it's about networking and understanding and knowing exactly what they bring into the building; forging links with Premier League clubs is vitally important as well so you get an opportunity to get some of their players and give them the opportunity to use us a stepping stone. I'm not averse to that if they bring quality as an individual to the team."

Curle added that it was essential that loan signings had the best interests of Latics in mind.

"It's all about the team," he said.

"I'm not going to bring in individuals with any agenda apart from winning on a Saturday for this football club."