Pascal McConnell, centre, was surprised at the Tyrone County Board’s decision to turn down Mickey Harte’s request for a contract extension

FORMER Tyrone goalkeeper Pascal McConnell has described the decision to wave away Mickey Harte’s request for a contrast extension as a ‘surprise’ – and he believes the saga between Harte and the County Board regarding his future will run and run.

On Tuesday night it emerged that the County Executive had denied the long-serving Tyrone boss’s request for a one-year extension to his current contract, which is due to come to an end at the conclusion of next season.

The Red Hands’ senior team made tangible progress this season, winning promotion to Division One and a first Ulster title in six years, albeit they succumbed to a one-point defeat against Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

McConnell won three Celtic Crosses under Harte before retiring from intercounty duty in 2013, and he believes his eventual successor – whomever and whenever that may be – will face an almost impossible task.

“I don’t think it’ll be the end of things, I think there’ll be a twist there at the end of it. Further success will probably determine whether Mickey will stay on.

“Mickey is no stranger to challenges throughout his Tyrone year. Going beyond with the next manager, it’ll certainly be a poisoned chalice I feel.

“It’s obviously unfortunate for Mickey, especially with the way things are coming along, it’s come as a bit of a surprise. Things seem to be well in motion on the next quest for the All-Ireland and next year will obviously be a big year as well.”

The end of Tyrone’s Championship campaign in 2015 also saw an apparent battle of wills between Harte and the County Board. The Errigal Ciaran man declared his intention to stay on in the wake of their semi-final defeat to Kerry, but chairwoman Roisin Jordan reported that no decision had been taken regarding the reappointment of Tyrone’s most successful ever manager.

Speculation about his future came to an end when he was granted a two-year extension in the middle of September. McConnell notes that any discord behind the scenes had little impact on the playing field:

“I think at the start of the year, considering the development of this Tyrone team an Ulster title is something we would have taken. Tyrone are sitting in a happy position, the transition’s now over, there seems to be a settled team.”