KEITH Curle knows he will have to take things step-by-step when it comes to getting Latics heading in the right direction.

The Oldham head coach is working to turn around a side that finished 18th in League Two last season, the latest in an increasing number of campaigns that has left supporters fearing for the future of their club.

While Curle has distanced himself from talk of discontent in the stands and problems off the field, he has made it clear how he intends to improve Latics’ fortunes on the pitch, starting with the season opener at home to Newport County on Saturday.

First things first will be tightening up a defence that shipped an alarming 81 goals last term, the most in the fourth tier. Curle is however also keen to balance that with the attacking threat shown last season, Latics the second-highest scorers with 72.

“We’re trying to take steps in the right direction,” he said.

“If the team is going to be successful every unit has got a role to play and that’s in possession and out of possession.

“Last season we scored a lot of goals but conceded more. The first level of improvement for this year, we can’t concede that many goals, but we still want to be an attacking threat.”

Perhaps no position sums up the balance between attack and defence more than Curle’s use of wing-backs, the former Northampton and Carlisle boss continuing his preference for three central defenders at Boundary Park.

Latics fans will hope the friendly win over Crewe is a sign of things to come with Nicky Adams on the right laying on both goals for Sam Hart, his counterpart on the left.

“It’s something we’ve been working on,” he said.

“Defensively, out of possession, our wing-backs are vitally important and then they’ve got the freedom to express themselves going forwards and get on the end of crosses going into the box.

“We want to encourage it. Last season, being among the top scorers in the division, we don’t want to take that away but the football club conceded more than 80 goals and we need to change that.”

The 5-1 defeat against Rochdale is not the kind of result Curle will have wanted to end pre-season with however.

But he is confident his work over the summer can bring results, and despite all the well-documented issues, believes that can play some part in changing the mood around the club.

“We’ve got to create an upward curve, or you could call it a wave – whatever you want to call it,” Curle said.

“You’ve got to take that first step. And you’d be surprised because once you start and gain that momentum the more people get on board.”