Caley Thistle have stepped up their search to find a replacement for Terry Butcher by making an approach to former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo.
Inverness have wasted no time in getting the ball rolling in their attempts to find a successor to Butcher, who was unveiled at Hibernian yesterday alongside assistant Maurice Malpas. Malpas rejected the chance to succeed Butcher at Caledonian Stadium in favour of joining him in Edinburgh.
Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron, who yesterday completed a two-and-a-half year contract with on-loan goalkeeper Dean Brill, and his board have begun the task of whittling down the list of those interested in the position and Hungarian Laszlo has been encouraged to make a formal application after putting his name forward last week.
The Romania-born 49-year-old, pictured, wants to make former Caley Jags midfielder Paul Sheerin his assistant after being impressed with the work Sheerin has done as player-manager at Arbroath.
Another option being considered as a potential assistant should Laszlo get the job is another former Caley Jag, Wick Academy manager Barry Wilson.
Former Scotland manager Craig Levein and Kenny Shiels, formerly of Kilmar nock, have also been linked with the role.
Butcher took his bow at Easter Road yesterday claiming opportunity rather than a lack of ambition was the over-riding factor in his leaving Caley Thistle.
The 54-year-old shot down suggestions he had taken the Highland club as far as it could go, claiming the chance to take over at Easter Road was too good to turn down.
Butcher insisted Malpas join him at the Edinburgh club after compensation was agreed. Goalkeeper coach and chief scout Steve Marsella is also in talks about heading to Leith.
Former England captain Butcher said: “I still felt I could take Inverness further, but when a job like this comes along it is difficult. With everything the club has, it is too good an opportunity to turn down. I must thank Caley Thistle enormously. They gave us our chance nearly five years ago.
“We took them down in the first six months right enough, but we brought them back up. If you look at how they have continued to progress, that’s the progression we want here.
“I was worried Maurice would not be here. I wanted him here. He is fantastic for me.
“He backs me and I trust him. I have been to other clubs without him and not done so well, but it has been brilliant together.”
Butcher does not plan to raid Inverness for players when the transfer window opens in January.
He said: “I will not really look at Caley Thistle players. January is a long way off at the moment.”