BOSS Eddie Howe admits Steve Clarke’s sacking as West Brom manager may have adversely affected Cherries’ hopes of extending Lee Camp’s stay.

Goalkeeper Camp’s current loan deal at Dean Court expires following Cherries’ trip to Championship rivals Brighton on New Year’s Day.

And co-incidentally, Camp’s short-term contract with the Baggies also comes to an end after Cherries’ visit to the Amex Stadium next month.

Howe has made no secret of the fact he would like to keep Camp with preliminary discussions already having taken place regarding the possibility of a permanent move.

However, although Camp will be a free agent at the start of next year, Clarke’s dismissal on Saturday has left the situation up in the air.

A new manager at the Hawthorns may choose to invoke a 24-hour recall clause on Camp or could tempt him to stay at West Brom by offering him a new contract.

Asked by the Daily Echo whether Clarke’s departure had clouded the issue, Howe replied: “It may but I don’t think we will know until after they have appointed a manager. It certainly hasn’t made it any easier for us.

“Football management is all about opinions and someone might come in and have a totally different perspective on things. We just won’t know until after they have made that appointment.

“Lee has done really well for us and, in the meantime, he will play for us over the festive period and, hopefully, he will do well.”

Back-up stopper Darryl Flahavan is waiting to discover whether he will need an operation after damaging his thumb in training.

Flahavan is due to have a consultation at the Villa Stuart Clinic in Rome with Ryan Allsop back in training and on standby to return to the squad at Sheffield Wednesday.