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Firstly, paragraphs are underrated. Secondly, the SPL no longer exists. Thirdly, we had a very attacking side under Butcher, scoring more goals in 2012-13 than any other top flight season in our history. Our average of two league goals per game when he got us promoted was pretty impressive too. Fourthly, "local players" - only Ross, Munro and Shinnie from that list weren't signed from other clubs. The others simply stayed here for a long time, which makes them no different from Draper, Warren and others currently at the club. We've never had a squad mainly built of local players - in fact we've barely had any local players. It's never harmed us before. I'd rather have a guy from down south who can play a bit than a local boy who can't. Fifthly. "442" - the only thing that bothers me more than Mike Bassett "Four-four-f******-two" types are those who insists we need a big man up front. Anyone who watches football with even half a brain knows that formations and systems are largely overrated these days - one team's 4-2-3-1 involves four forwards and is very attacking, and another team's 4-2-3-1 involves five midfielders and is very defensive. If the poster can name one elite team who play an orthodox 4-4-2, I'd be surprised. As for our "tried and tested 4-4-2", I'm not sure we've played such a system regularly since Wyness and Dargo were up front. Even then, Wyness used to drop deeper so it was more of a 4-4-1-1. I suppose we went with Rooney and Foran up top in the last few weeks of the promotion campaign. Sixthly (is that a word?), why people think Foran would be a good coach is not clear - there is more to coaching than loyalty to a club and a willingness to shout a lot.

Nobody wanted to buy tokes, golly or Munro because of their limited technical ability but they gave 100% as individuals and for the club. However Ross, Shinnie, Christie and polwarth who were developed here and our technically very good which means other clubs will want them. It's a credit to our youth coaches but also more likely they will move on. Our problem which I hope we can change is tying these promising players down early on longer contracts, even if it's a somewhat risky strategy. We don't necessarily need local players, but it's important we keep the leaders and clubmen, Warren, Foran, drapes etc and it seems it's what we are trying to do. These are the few of the few guys who are tied down. It's a natural cycle in every team as you pointed out. A small club which has sucess will be cherrypicked (see Leciester in the near future). Its impossible to sustain. Let's be happy our previous cycle brought so many highs but be prepared for a rough ride until we bring the next mixed batch of youth or gems from nowhere. But in the meantime we may suffer. I have concerns about Hughes ability in transfer market and our season next year but he has earned himself time in my book. I shall judge him after the summer recruits have settled next season.

Is it time to call it quits with John Hughes acknowledging he has brought success to the club but it appears he has run his course . Great coach but obviously not capable of building a team from lower league players that we can afford. Give Richie a chance and give him a Donald Park or Kevin Macdonald as coach ( the latter did no bad with Leicester as we can see )

The cynic in me notes that a full strength Hearts side were fit enough this evening to come from a goal down to beat Aberdeen and effectively confirm Celtic as league champions...

I'm pretty sure we have a bigger budget than the likes of Stirling and Montrose TBF[/pedant].

There could be, but there are 2 factors a) We are no longer in the 3rd or 4th tier of Scottish football so the step up to SPFL from part time is huge. We were lucky that guys like Munro, Tokely, McBain, Christie managed to take us through the levels to SPL, however during that time we signed players of a level at the league we were in and players moved on. We are finding players who are full time in leagues down south struggle and its a higher level, just because someone is from locally and feels affinity doesn't mean they will be good. b) Some player like Rory MacAllister and others are part time and want to be, they may have good qualifications and a well paid job with a supplementary part time football wage on top - this may actually amount to more than our wage budget can stretch for a full time (entry level pro) - many don't want the gamble of dropping salary in the hope they 'may' make it. If we want local players, we have to take youngsters and give them a proper grounding and development where they can get into the first team - which was done with Christie and Polly, sadly guys like Ferguson & Sutherland haven't developed to that level yet. Basically if we were picking up good enough youth players then they would be in the team, but how many SPFL teams are churning out lots of high quality young home grown local talent - its sporadic at best throughout.

ok the reality check comment was a bit harsh but lets be realistic, what makes anyone think that Kevin MacDonald would even be interested? because he is from Inverness? When was the last time MacDonald was in Inverness. Just because thats where he was born doesnt mean jack sh1t, he can earn a hell of a lot more down South

Bryan Gilfillan has left Annan Athletic due to ongoing problems with his knees.

^this! We are after-all a 'survival-first' club. So in that respect its a bit hard to judge JH this season because it's still a bit up in the air, but I'd like think we ARE safe... we don't have the finances to sack a manager and it's crazy I think that people on here are suggesting a player who is totally unproven in management! Last seasons highs have definitely left some of us a bit disillusioned! As much as I expect and hope that in a FEW years something similar may happen, but given the nature of the clubs finances are that we will sell on players, it's difficult to hold onto a strong nucleus to allow this to happen year after year. It actually reminds me of the salary cap idea in the NFL! Yogi's going nowhere, well he certainly won't be pushed. Foran won't be our next manger.

'Great' is an over-used word, but surely the best league position achieved by ICT in 2013/14, bettered in 2014/15, a League cup final, a Scottish cup win, followed by a semi-final appearance, all on what must be the lowest or 2nd lowest budget in the SPL, playing a style that although frustrating at times, isn't just hit and hope, with classy wins amongst the mix is worthy of some credit. Not a 'Great' coach perhaps, but a pretty decent one....if last years over-achievement was in part due to few injuries, and a nucleus of decent players now gone on to 'bigger' things(?) then this years under-achievement is in part down to poor luck with injuries and average luck on recruitment (and let's face it BIG clubs get that wrong all the time) Not yet time for Richie in my book, sentiment only gets you so far, what evidence is there that RF is a better manager than JH

With the relegation playoffs and the top six both possible but unlikely, what a BRILLIANT time to start a thread like this A look at Kevin's CV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_MacDonald_(footballer) may give some insight into the chances of a club with a budget like ICT's being able to meet his likely financial requirements. And that's before you even consider the likelihood of someone who has been 22 years in management accepting a post as assistant to someone with no management experience at all!

What on earth makes you believe JH is a great coach ? We have seen very little evidence of that.

If the scenario did come up, I would undoubtedly prefer Kevin MacDonald as manager with Foran as assistant than the other way (that's if MacDonald would want to move back up here anyway). I must admit, the whole Foran-for-manager stuff has never sat right with me. Now don't get me wrong, Foran's been our captain for years now and he's been a great player but just parachuting him doesn't sit with me. Yes, he's been a talismanic player and a great leader but that doesn't mean he's going to be a great manager. Tony Adams was a great captain but he was a rubbish manager. Many fans of other clubs would also point out Terry Butcher as falling into the same bracket. And it's not just that. What coaching experience does Foran have? What contacts does he have? What does he know about scouting and training and tactics? There's also the case as well is that in any job, it's not always a good idea to promote someone from being 'one of the lads' to the boss. Now that's not to say I'm writing him off forever and saying I wouldn't want him ever, but before he takes the top job here, I'd rather he even left the club and made his way up the leagues in his own right like Paul Hartley did. It's a no from me, for now.

Yep give them a rest before their big game on Friday level playing field my a**e!

Some of the photos coming from Tynecastle today, show some real healthy boys. We have been turned over again!

Don't understand why Robert's is out of favour, he's shown well since coming back from injury, and does he not have a 1 year extension clause on his current contract? His extended lay-off may also provide a bargaining chip for the club to keep costs down for future contracts? IMO one of our more skilful players....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35974305 I'm sure those at the top in the Scottish game will be happy, but already next season is starting to loose its appeal - obviously we are struggling, but I expect that for the next 4 months this is all that the media will write about. All the bigotry, bile and sectarianism will be forgotten as we are all supposed to rejoice at Armageddon ending - sadly I doubt most fans outwith the 2 ugly clubs will agree. I do find it interesting though, that a club humped last year so convincingly in the play-offs by an average Motherwell now have a test against Celtic in the cup, almost as if to let them gauge where they sit in terms of squad quality and preparation - a cynic would think its almost fixed? The re-birth of the SPFL was fun while it lasted, while some would say this is the resurrection of Scottish football, I think its more likely the death of much of the positivity and 'fun' over the last few years.

Steven Hislop has been appointed manager at Whitehill Welfare in the Lowland League. David Bingham will be his assistant.

Looking at Yogi's signings this season, most have been dreadful, and that's why we are in the position of having to fight to stay in the Premier League.

I agree with most of the posters that it is pretty over reactive to call for hughes's head and replace him with someone who is unproven even if he is a big part of the club. Now it isn't in stone but the fact that he has confirmed that we are targeting the three partick lads would suggest that we do have some decent players lined up. The fact that the signings havent been great this season is just part of the size of the club we are. Look at butcher, his first few seasons were hit and miss on recruitment but unfortunately that is always the risk of the unknown. We can scout and Yogi can watch them in person but it will never give you an absolute picture unless they have Scottish football experience. Add in the location and having to settle in some players just don't work out and don't show their proper potential but may go and fit in at another club better and look world beaters. Look at Angel Di Maria, he was very impressive for PSG against Man City and was one of Real Madrid's best players but never did at United and struggled to adapt to the premier league so it happens at the top of world football too. Yes the signings have been honking this season and the football has been a major drag but as has been alluded to in another topic on late goals we would have comfortably been top six this season so would people have moaned as much? He gets the summer to put a true stamp on his team and we shall see if it works or not but the contributing factor is we can't afford to change so debate over.

I am not a big poster on forums but as a life long fan I feel the time has come to express my concerns. As a club what we have achieved over the years has been fantastic with many happy and good memories especially winning the Scottish cup last season. I am now going to reverse back to Terry Butchers reign a the club and this was when my concern started. Going back to 2010 approx that is where I see the change starting to happen. Esson Proctor Tokely Golabek Duncan Foran Munro McBain Ross Sutherland Shinnie and that is just to name a few of players you could say had Caley Thistle blood in them. I put Esson and Foran in as i feel now the same applies to them. From then to now the club has lost all its local players or players who would be committed to Inverness. The club has completely lost its identity over the years. Looking at the current squad we have hardly a local player left in it. What this does is make it harder to keep players at the club as most players now at the club have no association or ties to Inverness. We are basically a club paying their wages to play football and in my opinion the players will give their all but ultimately will be looking to move on to other clubs. What has happened now is just about each season we are loosing players left right and centre and have to rebuild every season. John Hughes Inherited quite a good team and I thought had had taken the club even further forwards but this season I feel we are in free fall. Again going back to players we have lost a lot of good players over the last season or 2 but the players brought in have been poor well not just poor very poor. I will give exception to Miles Storey as i think he has done well but again it looks like he will not be around next season well not at this club anyway. It does really worry me for the season ahead. Firstly I do believe we will be an Spl team next season and we should make enough points to avoid the play off position. With players leaving in a few weeks I am terrified at the quality of players we might see at this club next season. We for some reason have a very unbalanced squad in regards to positions both in Butchers and Hughes reign. We always seem to have to rely on 1 striker. A team should have approx 2 gks, 8 Defenders, 8 midfielders, 4 strikers. Take away some defenders and strikers and add midfielders and you have Caley Thistle WHY ???. We used to play wonderful attacking football that was a join to watch but again since Butchers days and now Hughes we seem to be set up so defensive. Our tried and trusted 442 was replaced with 4231 and since then i have found it hard to watch at times. Our strikers sorry our striker is running around like a headless chicken getting zero support from anyone. You could put Messi, Lewandowski, Vardy any top striker in this team and they would not get many goals. There is just no support. More often than not when we do manage to go forward the ball seems to end back at our own gk. To sum up my whole rant ditch the 4231 formation once and for all and go back to 442. 4231 might be a good formation for some away games but at home 442 should return. The big question is can Hughes bring in the quality that this club is starting to desperately need and sort the way the team is playing and get players up the park. Or do we start a fresh page some people are saying Foran but i dont think he is the answer but 100% he should be in the management set up ie assistant or coach if we did replace Hughes. One thing for sure is we need to find some local players or bring on our own youths so we have some Caley Thistle blood back on the park. I fear we may never hear hes one of our own sung at the stadium much longer if not.