Caley Thistle manager John Robertson says the Highlanders must follow a tried and tested formula for success following relegation to the Championship.
Robertson yesterday returned to the training ground as Inverness manager for the first time since his return earlier this month, 13 years after leaving to join Hearts.
Caley Jags are in the second tier for the first time in seven years following a dire campaign under Richie Foran and were relegated from the Premiership just two years after winning the Scottish Cup.
Robertson has handed trials to former Motherwell defenders Joe Chalmers and David Ferguson, along with Fort William attacker Scott Davidson.
After making former Falkirk attacker John Baird his first signing, Robertson is searching far and wide to secure players on a limited budget and said: “We want to bring in players to help but we are where we are finance-wise.
“Not all the players will be of the same quality and experience of John. We are going to have to look at lads with less experience in other positions.
“We want hungry, young, energetic players because I can assure you the men who are signing for us are not here for the money. They are here because they want to play for Inverness. They realise it is a good club with good training facilities and good players. We want people to come here and show who they are.”
Robertson guided Caley Jags to the top flight for the first time in their history in 2004, with much of the team assembled by predecessor Steve Paterson prior to his departure to Aberdeen.
Robertson said the club must take inspiration from the past and added: “We are looking at younger players who want to prove to other clubs they shouldn’t have been released. We have done it in the past.
“Steve was magnificent in plucking players from the lower leagues and who had been released and putting together a team.
“We took it on from there with the likes of Stuart Golabek, Paul Ritchie, Ross Tokely and Roy McBain and we will continue to do that here.
“We have a certain way and a certain style. We want to play attacking football and work really hard.”