KEITH Curle has reiterated his plea to supporters not to disrupt games.

Latics have twice had games interrupted by fans' demonstrations against the club's ownership - first with tennis balls hurled onto the pitch in the Carabao Cup clash with Accrington Stanley, then a second half pitch invasion in their last home game, against Barrow.

There have been other occasions where pitch invasions have taken place at the end of games.

A further protest is planned for outside of Boundary Park ahead of Saturday's visit of Hartlepool United.

And while Curle recognises fans' right to voice their opinion, he has again appealed to supporters to keep their protests off the pitch.

"We as a football club cannot control the actions of our supporters outside of the stadium.

"I'm not a politician so I'm not going to get involved in the dynamics of their argument against the owners but within it I've always said and I'll repeatedly say, you cannot throw objects onto the pitch, you cannot enter the field of play," said Latics' head coach.

"If that happens it not only becomes an issue that we have to deal with but it becomes and issue that the FA and the EFL have to deal with, for public safety.

"Shout, scream - within reason, voice your opinion. Your allowed free speech and that hasn't been taken away from anybody. Anybody can have an opinion, voice an opinion.

"A lot of people who are coming on the pitch are getting selfies with the players, so it's not a fearful environment. I understand the supporters are annoyed, unhappy and they're venting their frustration. They're entitled to do that.

"But it is a criminal offence to enter the field of play or throw objects onto the pitch."