Kevin McHattie has backed Caley Thistle to handle the departure of key players and still push for promotion.
Coll Donaldson has already left for neighbours Ross County while fellow centre-back Jamie McCart has signed a pre-contract agreement with St Johnstone.
The Saints are also believed to be interested in full-back Shaun Rooney, who has also caught the eye of fellow Championship side Dundee.
Liam Polworth and Joe Chalmers, two pivotal figures in their fortunes last season, left for the top flight in the summer and the Caley Jags appear set for further raids this season.
McHattie, who played in the Premiership for Hearts and Kilmarnock, acknowledges it can be a difficult period to get through but has faith those who are left can get the club back into the top flight.
McHattie said: “It’s unsettling but as professionals, we have to focus on Saturday and training each day. It’s difficult but the boys here can handle that.
“If you’re playing in the Championship, the main aim is to get up to the Premiership.
“If anyone does that, fair play to them and their hard work and dedication.
“I back every single one of the boys in the dressing room. You get to know them on a daily basis – they’re all great guys. We’ve got what it takes to push for that (promotion).
McHattie has been drafted into centre-half for the last three games, with McCart left out of the starting line-up. It was the ex-Hearts player’s seventh appearance of the season, in a campaign that has seen him continue to play understudy to the regular back four.
He said: “I’m enjoying it – I’m playing so it’s a good start. The first game I played last season was at Ayr at centre-half. I don’t mind it. If the gaffer asks me to play there I’ll play there. I’ll do the best for him and the team.”
There were no complaints from the 26-year-old with regards to Saturday’s result, with the win for Ayr closing the gap between the sides to just a point.
McHattie added: “The pitch isn’t the way we want it – it wasn’t the greatest but you’ve got to play conditions.
“We didn’t do that, particularly in the first half. They got the goal, sat in and made it hard for us. Fair play to Ayr, they did what was required to get the three points.”
