Mickey Harte: 'We only care about winning' - Brendan Rogers on appointment of Tyrone legend as Derry boss

Derry dual code star Brendan Rogers says it is "a privilege" to have Mickey Harte and his assistant Gavin Devlin in charge of the county's football team.

The appointment of former Tyrone three-time All-Ireland winning manager Harte to the Derry job in September sent shockwaves through Ulster gaelic games.

Harte left Louth to take the helm with the Oak Leafers on a three-year deal.

"We only care about winning and it takes winners to do that," said Rogers of the recent Derry appointments.

"It's good to have them in our backroom team, whether other folk like that or not, that's irrelevant.

"It's not easy to get a top class intercounty manager so we are very privileged to have them and hopefully it makes for an exciting year on and off the pitch.

Harte succeeded Ciaran Meenagh, who guided Derry to victory in the Ulster final victory over Armagh and then to the All-Ireland semi-finals, where they lost narrowly to Kerry.

Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin previously enjoyed success in charge of Derry's Ulster rivals Tyrone

Rogers meanwhile enjoyed a stellar year which culminated in him receiving an All Star and being named as one of the three nominees for the Footballer of the Year award.

"Personally I've only met him [Mickey] once, but there is a successful manager there," revealed Rogers.

"I was probably surprised [at the appointment] in hat he already had a job and was going quite well with Louth, but then you have to look at ourselves - we're probably a decent age profile of a team and an interesting prospect.

"Probably the first thing when someone says they are interested, you think they must see something that they can work with, then you say they've picked us for a reason so it can only be good."

Rogers is familiar with Harte's long-time assistant Devlin from his spell in charge of Derry club side Slaughtneil.

"Gavin took Slaughtneil for a couple of years and we won a Championship with him and got to another final so we kind of know what we're getting there and you're excited for it.

"When you have as good a coach as Gavin and the managerial success of Mickey Harte joined together you have a good combination."