MANAGER: The standards have changed

Keith Curle on the January transfer window

United manager Keith Curle spoke more about the January transfer window ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Accrington Stanley.

“The fact we didn’t sign anybody wasn’t for the want of trying,” he said. “I was in London, Manchester and Liverpool, to watch Everton, on deadline day so I could talk to agents and players. That was the day after the disappointment of the cup game, but this business doesn’t stop for anybody.

“The time with Everton means we were able to look at the potential for a loan move when the emergency window opens, so it was time well spent. We have targets for when the loan window opens and lines of communication are open, which is a good position for us to be in.”

“We haven’t been able to bring in fixed-term signings, as we wanted to, but we’ve shown that there is a change of direction at the football club when it comes to recruitment,” he continued. “That’s centred on the quality of players I want to work with. What I won’t do is sell myself short and buy players just for the sake of keeping a few people happy.

“The standards have changed inside the dressing room and we hope to see players coming in when the loan window opens to make sure that improvement continues. I have a good understanding with the owners that I won’t bring people in unless I’m happy that they’ll make us better.”

On players going out, he said: “I’ve had a football club ask, through a third party, about a loan deal through to the end of the season for one of our centre forwards.

“I explained that to the player but I advised him that, in my opinion, it wasn’t the right move for him. However, if he’d wanted to go and speak to them I wouldn’t have stood in his way. I have a clean conscience that I do my best for players under my charge and the final decision always comes down to them.

“That’s how it was with Gary Dicker. He played his part while he was here, even though he was on the transfer list, and I felt I owed it to him to let him know that there was potential for him to make a move which took him beyond the end of his time with us.

“He told me he wanted to speak to them and a deal was struck which suited him and his long term future. I don’t have a problem with that at all. I think his first game will be against Glasgow Rangers in front of 45,000 people and that’s a great introduction for him to his new club.

“It was Gary’s decision completely to leave us. He was an integral part of the squad but an enquiry like that has to be passed on and it has to become his choice. He goes with our blessing.”