KEITH Curle hopes the situation surrounding Latics' latest transfer restrictions is rectified before January, having already earmarked targets.

Oldham had been limited to free transfers and loan signings under the conditions of the English Football League's monitored loan agreement with the club, which was taken out to ease the financial burden of the Covid-19 pandemic when the 2019/20 season was abandoned and the 2020/21 campaign at Boundary Park was played entirely behind closed doors.

However, Latics have been clamped down on even further as a result of a breach of EFL rules relating to missed payments.

The club has been found to be in breach of Regulation 51.2.3, which is listed in the EFL’s embargo reporting service and states: “If a Club is in default of payments due to another Club (or club) under a transfer or compensation agreement the Club shall be subject to a registration embargo such that it shall not be permitted to register any player with that Club without the prior written consent of The League until such time as the agreement is honoured.”

The development has served to heighten fans' frustration with the club's regime and calls for a change of ownership, with many fearing for the club's future under Abdallah Lemsagam.

Curle has faith in the current crop to keep struggling Latics up, particularly with some key players expected to report back from long-term injuries in the coming weeks to strengthen the side.

However, he is hopeful the situation will be resolved, and the latest restrictions lifted, before January, having already started planning for the re-opening of the transfer window.

"There are discussions that will take place probably at the beginning of next month.

"We've already started identifying areas within the team that we think we can improve. But that's an ongoing situation that happens at every single football club, we're always striving to improve.

"If you're winning the Champions League, if you're in the Premier League, if you're qualifying for everything and winning cups you don't need a lot of change. We know where we're at and we've got to create that upward spiral and within that there is going to be change, continual change, until we get where we want to be."

Having taken a step forward with their first home league win of the season against Stevenage last weekend, Latics took a step back on Tuesday. Defeat at home to Walsall left them level on points with tomorrow's opponents, Carlisle United, who are a place below third-bottom Latics on goal difference.

Their position remains precarious. But Curle remains optimistic.

"Can I keep this football club up? Yes," he said. "But part and parcel of that is the same as at every football club, there's changes, and I'm not scared of change. It's part of the industry that the players know there will be changes.

"Since I've been here there have been a lot of changes.

"Am I scared of making change? No. We're not where we want to be."