Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran has warned his players there are jobs at stake as his players fight to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Inverness’ 3-0 defeat by St Johnstone on Saturday leaves them four points adrift at the foot of the table, with only six games remaining.
The result prolonged a dire run of form which has seen Inverness win just one of their last 21 league matches, with the Highlanders clocking up only four victories all season.
Irishman Foran was part of an Inverness side that suffered relegation from the top flight in 2009 after suffering a final-day 1-0 defeat by Falkirk, which saw them go down on goal difference below St Mirren.
Foran says he and his players cannot under play the severity of Caley Jags’ current predicament, with the reality of another demotion from the top-flight looming larger.
Foran said: “Relegation has been spoken about. We spoke about it with the players the day before the St Johnstone game.
“I told the players I’ve been part of a team that’s been relegated here. I’ve seen office staff crying in the corridor after losing their jobs.
“I’ve let them know, maybe some of the younger players don’t know what it means to the city of Inverness. But we spoke about it on Friday and obviously didn’t get the reaction we wanted from them.”
Inverness play their final pre-split fixture against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, in a crucial match which gives Caley Jags the opportunity to reduce the gap on the 11th-placed Steelmen to one point.
Despite the poor form, Foran is demanding a response from his players and he said: “It’s a tough time of the season and it’s tough sitting at the bottom of the table. But I need the lads to stand up in training through the week.
“Not enough of them did that on Saturday.”
Captain Gary Warren and attacker Larnell Cole will miss the game after being sent off in Saturday’s home loss.
