'I'm not ready for the pipe and slippers' - Harte

Mickey Harte stepped down after 10 months as Oak Leaf manager

Mickey Harte says he wants to return to inter-county management after stepping down as Derry boss earlier this week.

Harte ended his 10-month reign after an All-Ireland quarter-final exit at the hands of Kerry.

"I'm not ready for the pipe and slippers yet," said Harte, who won three All-Ireland titles as Tyrone manager.

"I like what I'm doing - I like managing at this level. We'll see what happens."

The 72-year-old guided the guided the Oak Leafers to a National Football League Division One title but oversaw a difficult championship campaign.

With their Ulster reign having been ended by Donegal at Celtic Park, Derry finished third in their All-Ireland group and beat Mayo in the preliminary quarter-finals before falling to Kerry in the last eight at the end of June.

"We were only there for a year - it was never set to be more than that although maybe other people assumed different things." Harte told BBC Sport NI

"The year was completed and I just thought it was best to step away now. The Donegal defeat knocked the confidence out of the players to a large degree and then it took a lot to get over that.

"Supensions and other things didn't help."