Midfielder Dan Gardner says the players owe it to themselves to improve on last season, and they are grafting hard to make it happen.

The 34-year-old admitted Latics fell short of the standards expected of them, both on and off the field last term.

But he insisted writing those wrongs had been a big focus of pre-season as they prepare for a third attempt at returning to the Football League.

"We need to be better. The second half of the season we went on a decent run and towards the end we stumbled, which is on us as players," said Gardner.

"We need to cut out a lot of stuff that happened last season, which we're doing.

"I think a few of the lads have said it will take time but we're trying to make changes and nip things in the bud early before it happens. There was stuff happening last season where we didn't do that and it was too late, and it had a knock-on effect on the pitch.

"We need to get that out now and we're moving in the right direction."

Asked if he was referring to people's attitudes or professionalism as a whole, Gardner added: "Just everything. Everyone, including me. We need to be better and that's what we're working on, and we're working on taking us forward.

"It's everything, professionalism, on and off the pitch. Everyone being together and working to be better to take us where this club should be.

"We need to be better this season and from pre-season, going into the season, I think you can see how we've been working. We all want to do well, but it's about putting it in now and showing everyone what we're about."

Latics have one friendly remaining - at home to manager Micky Mellon's former club, Shrewsbury - on Saturday (August 3) before the new National League season begins with the visit of Braintree Town on August 10.

"It's always nice to start at home, for me anyway. I don't know if a few of the lads are different but if we can get a good backing - and Oldham fans always back us - so we'll have a good following at home and we'll go out and try to win the game," said Gardner.

Braintree are an unknown quantity having had a squad overhaul since winning promotion via the National League South play-offs, but the midfielder insists the focus is on themselves and not the opposition.

"For me it's always been like that," he added.

"You always have to tune into the fine detail of how certain teams play but I think it's all about us really.

"Win every game, that's what we're here for. We play to win, that's our mindset so we'll just go into every game thinking we can win it and see where we can go."