Former Caley Thistle forward Steven Hislop feels the Highlanders have been left stranded by the ongoing uncertainty over which division they will play in next season.
Talks over league reconstruction are continuing, with Premiership clubs meeting yesterday to discuss Hearts owner Ann Budge’s proposal to create a 14-14-14 structure.
Should the Premiership be expanded to 14 teams, Inverness would stand to be promoted after finishing runners-up behind Championship winners Dundee United last term.
Hislop feels the lack of certainty has made it difficult for manager John Robertson to plan for next season.
Hislop said: “I feel sorry for Inverness, regardless of my ties with them.
“They are almost stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“It’s a shame for them as they had such a good season, but it’s all now petered out.
“They don’t know where they are going. They are the club that finds themselves on this little island where they don’t know whether they are going up or down.
“It’s hard to plan and prepare for next season. I don’t know how John Robertson can say to a player that he wants to keep them if they stay in the Championship, but not if they go up to the Premiership. Sometimes it does happen like that.
“Inverness are a club that’s totally stranded at this moment.”
Budge’s proposal to reconfigure the league structure is only a temporary, for a two-year period, which causes Hislop to doubt it will receive enough support from clubs should it go to a vote.
The 41-year-old, who also played for Ross County, added: “I think it’s a good idea, but I don’t actually think it will happen.
“In two years time they will have to revert to a smaller league, and six teams would be relegated from the Championship. I can’t see any of them taking the risk.
“Playing teams four times a season is very monotonous. They asked the players what they wanted, and they wanted a change, but of course the league don’t take anybody’s views into consideration.
“They just do what they think is best, but don’t seem to want to listen to other people’s views.
“I think that’s what will happen again. I can understand clubs have a bit of self-interest, and look after themselves. I totally get that.
“The only reason Hearts are pursuing this is to keep their status in the Premiership.
“It seems daft they can only have it for two years, with the threat of relegation for some Championship teams.”
Hislop, who grew up supporting Hearts, feels Inverness would merit their place in the top-flight, adding:
“Inverness deserve to go up. I think it should be the top two up, and the bottom two going down.
“Inverness deserve to be in the Premiership, for me there’s no two ways about it.
“It pains me to say it, but Hearts deserve to be in the Championship.”
