Inverness CT boss John Hughes has called on the club's board to show ambition and invest in quality players this summer in a bid to avoid the Highlanders stagnating.

Hughes was named Premiership Manager of the Month for April with the club just failing to make the top six this term on the back of winning the Scottish Cup and finishing third in 2014/15.

At the end of last month, the Inverness board released a statement detailing their squad investment following comments from Hughes.

Now the boss has replied, calling on chairman Kenny Cameron to avoid seeing the team's progress stall.

"We're at a situation now where we've got to decide do we go and buy a Mini or do we go try and get a Merc?

"Do we spend our money now or do we save it and go get the Merc, the quality this club needs?

"We have lost too many quality players in my time here and not replaced them. I think the fans deserve some quality players here to excite them and hopefully that will be the case.

"I think we need to move the club forward. You either stagnate or you move forward. There is a wee bit of toing and froing to what direction we're going to go in."

Former striker Billy McKay is a close season target while they remain keen to secure Greg Tansey, a winter target for Aberdeen, on a new contract.

"I think there's five hopefully we can get done in the dressing room," he said.

"Iain Vigurs, Danny Devine, Owain Fon Williams and then the reins are on it terms of what else we're going to do.

"If league position improves then the finance that comes with that will hopefully go on the budget.

"I think it is imperative we keep Greg Tansey. He's a big part of it."