TYRONE MANAGER MICKEY Harte’s future will come under the microscope in the coming weeks, following yesterday’s demoralising All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin at Croke Park.
Harte has been in charge of the Red Hands since 2002 – and he’s presided over three All-Ireland senior title wins during his lengthy spell at the helm.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
But last September, Tyrone county board chiefs refused his request for a one-year extension that would have taken Harte to the end of the 2018 campaign.
And as things stand, his current deal with Tyrone top brass has now expired.
Speaking on The Sunday Game last night, former Kerry star Tomás Ó Sé admitted that the Dublin performance did Harte no favours.
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He said: ”It comes down to politics within a county. I know from the last couple of years that possibly the knives will be out. There has been a heave to get him out before.
“He’s a guy that has brought Tyrone from minor level all the way to senior level. He owes Tyrone nothing, obviously, but I suppose going forward, that performance today won’t help him.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s a matter of who else is there. The same issue would apply in Kerry – who else would be there to take it over, who else would be capable of taking it over?
“That’s the question in Tyrone. Nobody can question what Mickey Harte has achieved with that group of players, and the way he has built them up.
Today they’ll be disappointed and it’s easy to kick a man when he’s down. I don’t think tonight is the night to say whether he should go or not. I think that’s an internal matter but today won’t go down too well in Tyrone.”
Ex-Tyrone star Brian McGuigan, who won All-Ireland medals in 2003, 2005 and 2008 under Harte’s tutelage, conceded that there are “some factions of the county board” who don’t want the manager to continue.
He said: ”What Mickey has done for me, I’ll be indebted to him for the rest of my life.
“There’s no point in hiding behind the facts that there is politics going on there, that some factions of the county board maybe don’t want Mickey there. There’s a lot of Tyrone people that don’t want Mickey there.
Brian McGuigan and Mickey Harte celebrate Tyrone's 2008 All-Ireland win. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
“I honestly believe that where the team’s going, and where Tyrone’s going, the only person that should decide whether Mickey Harte is there is Mickey Harte.
He’s been through a lot on and off the field, a lot of highs and lows. So, when he wants to go from Tyrone, I think that will be his time to go.
“If Mickey decides to go, or somebody decides to get rid of him, could you tell me somebody who would want to come in after Mickey?”
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'Possibly the knives will be out, there has been a heave to get him out before'
TYRONE MANAGER MICKEY Harte’s future will come under the microscope in the coming weeks, following yesterday’s demoralising All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin at Croke Park.
Harte has been in charge of the Red Hands since 2002 – and he’s presided over three All-Ireland senior title wins during his lengthy spell at the helm.
But last September, Tyrone county board chiefs refused his request for a one-year extension that would have taken Harte to the end of the 2018 campaign.
And as things stand, his current deal with Tyrone top brass has now expired.
Speaking on The Sunday Game last night, former Kerry star Tomás Ó Sé admitted that the Dublin performance did Harte no favours.
He said: ”It comes down to politics within a county. I know from the last couple of years that possibly the knives will be out. There has been a heave to get him out before.
“He’s a guy that has brought Tyrone from minor level all the way to senior level. He owes Tyrone nothing, obviously, but I suppose going forward, that performance today won’t help him.
“It’s a matter of who else is there. The same issue would apply in Kerry – who else would be there to take it over, who else would be capable of taking it over?
“That’s the question in Tyrone. Nobody can question what Mickey Harte has achieved with that group of players, and the way he has built them up.
Ex-Tyrone star Brian McGuigan, who won All-Ireland medals in 2003, 2005 and 2008 under Harte’s tutelage, conceded that there are “some factions of the county board” who don’t want the manager to continue.
He said: ”What Mickey has done for me, I’ll be indebted to him for the rest of my life.
“There’s no point in hiding behind the facts that there is politics going on there, that some factions of the county board maybe don’t want Mickey there. There’s a lot of Tyrone people that don’t want Mickey there.
“I honestly believe that where the team’s going, and where Tyrone’s going, the only person that should decide whether Mickey Harte is there is Mickey Harte.
“If Mickey decides to go, or somebody decides to get rid of him, could you tell me somebody who would want to come in after Mickey?”
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All-Ireland SFC GAA Gaelic Football Mickey Harte Tyrone under the microscope