Sean Cavanagh is confident that Mickey Harte will be retained as Tyrone senior football manager.

For the first time since his appointment in 2002, there is uncertainty over Harte's future at the Red Hands helm. The three-times All-Ireland winning manager didn't have an agreed extension in place when his side exited the 2015 All-Ireland SFC race at the semi-final stage last month. With a few issues needing to be ironed out, the County Board has yet to ratify his retention:

"The players haven't been expecting a change, and I suspect that will be the case. I can't see a change," team stalwart Cavanagh notes in The Irish News.

"The squad is growing, it's building, there's a project there, there's a little bit of unfinished business to take care of next year.

"It's something that the players didn't really think an awful lot about. In the wake of the Kerry defeat, we met up on the Wednesday night after and Mickey spoke about plans for the new year.

"Obviously that was more about reflection for the players and the team and whatnot. It's something that has taken us a little bit by surprise, but you have to understand that there are protocols and processes to go through."

"I suppose every county does it differently. I know within other counties, players are consulted, but you have to put faith in whoever is at the top of the County Board.

"There are some very good people there and I have no doubt that whatever they do, it will be in the best interests of Tyrone."

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