Thursday 19 May 2016 11:25, UK
Inverness CT manager John Hughes is poised to part company with the club just 12 months after leading them to their first Scottish Cup success.
Reports in the Scottish media claim Hughes will leave the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium following a breakdown in his relationship with club chairman Kenny Cameron.
Hughes is under contract until 2018, but the Press & Journal claims the two parties are negotiating an agreement which will see the former Falkirk and Hibernian boss exit the club.
The 51-year-old is said to have become increasingly frustrated at the loss of key players from his squad, claiming he has not been given the budget to replace them.
And after leading Inverness to the Europa League qualifiers for the first time at the start of the campaign, the club finished seventh in the table.
Hughes had made a new contract for leading-scorer Miles Storey his summer priority following a successful season-long loan from Swindon, during which the striker scored 13 goals in 36 appearances.
But the 22-year-old decided to sign a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership rivals on Tuesday.
Former Celtic assistant manager John Collins, who previously worked as Hughes' director of football at Livingston, believes Inverness will struggle to find a better replacement.
"John Hughes has done an unbelievable job at Inverness. He took on a team that was a long-ball side which played no football and he very quickly moulded them into a total football team," Collins told the Press & Journal.
"They got to the League Cup final in his first season and lost on penalty kicks to Aberdeen. In the second season they beat Celtic in the semi-final and won the Scottish Cup. On top of that he has sold players and made players better.
"What he has done with average players, no support, no training ground, no sports science and no video analysis is incredible. If Inverness lose John then it will be a huge loss to them."
