John Hughes is planning talks with several Caley Thistle players who are out of contract in the summer and is looking for answers within the next 10 days.
With only seven players signed up for next season, the contracts of 14 of Inverness’ first-team players are due to end in the summer.
Midfield pair Danny Williams and James Vincent have already agreed pre-contracts with Premiership rivals Dundee, while leading scorer Miles Storey’s loan deal from Swindon Town will also expire at the end of the campaign.
Manager Hughes is keen to accelerate the process of signing up more members of his squad for next season, with a three-year deal on the table for midfielder Liam Polworth and a two-year contract on offer for defender Danny Devine.
Hughes has indicated there will be no room for hesitation from any of his players.
He said: “Some tough decisions will have to be made over the next month or so but as long as it’s for the better of the club.
“We are looking at six or seven. We have been in communication with the chairman and we just need clarity about what’s on the table but we will have to put a time limit on it. We can’t sit back and hope and wait. That also applies to players we are bringing in.
“Players are keeping their options open and I understand that but we need a time limit because we have to look after Inverness. Hopefully, in the next week we will speak to the guys and give them clarity as we need to know whether it’s take it or leave it.
“We probably want to hear by the weekend after the Hearts game or the Monday following that. The chairman has been working away at the negotiations. Everyone we are trying to keep would get a wage rise, it’s not as if we are trying to undercut anyone. We are hoping they commit their futures to Inverness.”
Inverness last month approached Partick Thistle to inform them of their plans to speak to midfield trio Stuart Bannigan, Abdul Osman and Steven Lawless, but Hughes says no talks have yet taken place with the players.
He added: “We just let Partick Thistle know it was our intention to speak to them in case we do that, but nothing has materialised. That’s where it’s difficult. We don’t want to speak to these guys if we can’t say ‘here’s the deal’ and we can’t do it when we are waiting on someone else. It’s all about spinning the plates.
“That’s like every manager at this time of the year. We need to show the supporters we want to keep our best players and add quality to the squad so that we can challenge next season.”
