Harte happily oblivious to 'noise' over Derry job

Mickey Harte strongly denied that he opted to take the Derry job because of lingering hurt over his departure from the Tyrone post in late 2020

Mickey Harte says he was completely oblivious to the "noise" created by his shock appointment as Derry football boss, adding that no one in his native Tyrone has criticised him to his face.

"People need to realise it doesn't bother me," Harte told BBC Sport NI.

"I don't hear it, I don't see it, I don't read it."

Harte added: "Whatever's going on out there, you must know more than I do because there was not a thing that bothered me.

"Because there's a bit of loud noise comes from places doesn't mean that there are a lot of people talking like that.

"A few people can make lots of noise and then give the impression that everybody is talking.

"I met loads of people and not one of them said a cross word to me in Tyrone and indeed in Derry either."

In his first major appearance before the media since his appointment in September, Harte denied that his decision to take the Derry job was because of lingering hurt over not being given more time in the Tyrone post, which he held from 2003 until 2020, during which time he led the Red Hand County to three All-Ireland titles.

"Not at all, your imagination is running wild with you tonight," said Harte, when asked if he was driven by a desire to exact revenge on the Tyrone county board for its decision.

"I'm on record many times as saying that I enjoyed my work with Tyrone over so many years.

"And I said many times that if I came to the stage where Tyrone felt they didn't want me, and I still had an interest in managing at this level, they I would be prepared to do that. And that's exactly what I'm doing."

More to follow.