KEITH Curle says he is determined to keep Oldham Athletic's focus on football.

Fans' protests against the club's ownership escalated this week, with tennis balls thrown onto the pitch from the Jimmy Frizzell Stand interrupting play in the fifth minute of the Carabao Cup win over Accrington Stanley.

Those scenes followed on from last Saturday's pitch invasion at the final whistle of Latics' home defeat to Colchester United, where a number of supporters ran over to stand in front of the directors' box and chant "We want Abdallah out".

Those chants were repeated during the tennis ball demonstration, and then after the cup second round shoot-out win in midweek following an initial celebratory pitch invasion.

Fans' feelings towards the Lemsagam regime are hard to ignore. But Curle says it is his job to concentrate on the team and ensure his players are not distracted by matters off the field.

"The referee made us aware that they had had some intelligence that there was going to be a demonstration," Latics' head coach explained.

"All we say is 'focus on what we are here to do'.

"We are here to play a game of football.

"The supporters do what they do and we acknowledge it but we don't change our mindset. We are here to play football.

"I don't really want to get involved in the argument. The feelings of frustration, anger, disappointment, disillusionment, everything you can say that has been vented.

"I can't change that."

Instead, Curle wants his players to give fans a reason to make more positive chants as - protests aside - the head coach noted the terrific atmosphere generated at Boundary Park in midweek.

"Did you hear when they were chanting Keith Curle's blue and white army? I head that," he said.

"It's starting to grow and it's starting to build. Let's start talking about that. The supporters are backing the players.

"I've had a couple of supporters text me and message me wishing the team well. That's what we are about.

"I like it when a fanbase is chanting my name. It means they are appreciating what we are trying to do and what we are trying to build.

"There are going to be distractions at every football club that you go to.

"My job, my role, is keeping the focus of the players on their job and representing the football team."