Pat Spillane says Mickey Harte should step down as manager of the Tyrone senior football team.

Harte has been at the Red Hands' helm since 2002 and has brought unprecedented success to his county, including three historic All-Ireland SFC titles.

The Errigal Ciaran clubman has confirmed that he will stay on for one more season to honour his current three-year contract, but Kerry legend Spillane feels Tyrone's only-ever Sam Maguire Cup winning boss should depart with immediate effect:

"I really do believe that it's time for a change, fresh face, fresh voice, new ideas and rebuild," he told RTE Sport.

"There's no doubt about it, he's been an unbelievable manager, one of the top five, maybe the top three gaelic football managers of all time.

"Three All-Ireland titles, brought Tyrone from nowhere. He owes nothing to Tyrone, he's been absolutely brilliant.

"Since 2008 this is the sixth year - aside from the league performances - it's been fairly underwhelming. They've been poor in the Ulster championship and they've suffered some fair hammerings from the likes of Dublin and Kerry.

"Tyrone played Kerry in Killarney - they suffered the biggest drubbing I think they ever had under Mickey Harte and that team that played in the second half, they threw in the towel and I've never ever seen a Tyrone team to throw in the towel under Mickey Harte." Tweet

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