KEITH Curle insists he will not push the panic button when it comes to building his Latics squad.

In an ideal world the head coach admits he would prefer to have the bulk of his squad in place before the players report back for pre-season training next week.

But he insists he is prepared to be patient in his pursuit of getting the right formula to bring Oldham the success that he seeks next season.

"The secret is not to panic," Curle told the Oldham Times.

"In the ideal scenario I'd have 11 new players all signed and they'll all be ready for the first day of pre-season, but that's the ideal world.

"I don't think there's going to be any manager who's going to have his squad in tact and finalised for the day they return to pre-season.

"But I think by the start of the season we'll have all the credentials in place for a very competitive campaign."

Curle has yet to make his first permanent signing for Latics, having landed goalkeeper Laurie Walker on an emergency deal from MK Dons last season following injury to Ian Lawlor.

But the former Carlisle and Northampton boss insists there are plenty of irons in the fire, with some familiar faces among his targets.

"I've got my eye on a number, opened up negotiations and communication with players and agents," he said.

"I've been very busy, but luckily I've been here before.

"Because I've been around enough a lot of people have got my contact details and they know what I'm like so a lot of players agents won't bring to me because they know they're not my sort of player. But it's keeping up to date and abreast of everything that's happening, there is new emerging talent that's out there as well.

"Some are old, some are new, some are borrowed. I know where I'm shopping and I know the direction I want to go in and I feel that's vitally important.

"When you're shopping, if you know where you're going, it helps. It's easier."

Curle, who will work in tandem with sporting director Mo Lemsagam in the transfer market, added: "Identifying the players I want to bring in is vitally important, and having the dialogue - involving the sporting director, Mo, in those dialogues - is vitally important and all working together to get the best deal for the football club.

"I'm fishing in the ponds that I've been fishing in before, so it's knowing what bait to use."