MICKEY HARTE looks set to be Tyrone manager until at least 2018 after he sought to extend his current term by an extra season.
In 2015, the three-time All-Ireland-winning manager was reappointed for a two-year term and, with a year gone, The Irish News understands the Errigal Ciaran clubman met with senior county board officers last week to discuss adding another season.
The Tyrone county board management committee will meet on September 6 and are expected to ratify the request.
Harte, who led Tyrone to All-Ireland titles in 2003, '05 and '08, agreed a three-year term in 2012 that took him up to the end of the 2015 season.
After leading the Red Hands to an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Kerry, he requested another three-year stint, but there were prolonged negotiations over his reappointment last summer.
In the end, Harte met a three-person delegation from the county executive, led by chairperson Roisín Jordan, and was given a two-year term.
This year, he delivered the county’s first Ulster Senior Football Championship title since 2010, as well as the NFL Division Two title, the Dr McKenna Cup and the pres-season O Fiaich Cup.
Tyrone exited the All-Ireland series at the quarter-final stage after an off-colour performance against Mayo.
Since then, Harte has scoured the county to run the rule over players who could feature for Tyrone next year: “The season won’t be closed for me because there’s lots of championship football coming up,” he told The Irish News.
“I want to see the current form of the players who are in the squad and see if there are any more players out there who merit attention and that will keep me interested.”
