Caley Thistle manager John Hughes will step up talks to secure the future of seven players who will be out of contract at the end of the season.
Defenders Josh Meekings, David Raven and Danny Devine and midfielders Marley Watkins, Nick Ross, Liam Polworth and Lewis Horner will be free agents at the end of the campaign.
The Caley Jags lost leading-scorer Billy Mckay to Wigan Athletic for £150,000 last month, while captain Graeme Shinnie agreed a pre-contract with Aberdeen.
Hughes’ priority is to ensure no more players move on and he said: “It’s about time, within the next week or so, that we get down to business. We need to know where we’re going and the players need to know where they’re going.
“It works both ways. They might say someone has offered them a deal. We don’t want that.
“The players have been very hard-working. We know what we’ve got and that’s important.”
Although the transfer window is closed Hughes remains keen to add to his squad, but must now look to the free agent market.
He will not be rushing any deals and added: “We’re still working very hard to add one or two.
“I look for good footballers. If any of our players want to sit back and rest on their laurels and I see a better footballer, no matter what position, I’ll try to bring him to my club.
“I like good footballers, but character is massively important and I know how hard these players train. I need to bring in people with the right character.
“It’s a special squad and I don’t want to bring a bad apple in.
“We have to be very careful, but we’re getting there. The strategy is in place.
“My phone’s been red hot. As soon as I identify a player, the first thing I do is a look at his history. Ten times out of 10, I will find someone who he’s worked or played with and get on the phone for a character reference.”