BOSS Scott Parker admitted “there could be a chance” Steve Cook may leave Cherries in January and added: “There is probably a lot to be discussed regarding it."

Club captain Cook has been with the Dorset club for more than a decade, first joining Cherries on loan from Brighton in October 2011.

A key figure in Cherries’ monumental rise to the Premier League, the Hastings-born centre-back has played 387 times for the Dorset club – 168 of them coming at England’s elite level.

But, with the likes of Newcastle, Watford and QPR recently linked with the 30-year-old’s signature, Parker did not rule out the centre-back leaving next month.

Asked whether was a chance Cook could leave in January, Parker replied: “There could be a chance.

“Steve’s contract is up at the end of the season as well. I am sure Steve would be the first to say during this first half of the season he would have liked to have played more than what he has.

“But like I always say, I respect Steve, I have a rich respect for him – his quality, his professionalism.

“Come the end of January, he’s someone I’d want still to be here.

“But I also respect Steve’s situation. He is someone who has given incredible service to this football club.

“However that pans out in January, I’m not sure, I don’t know how that could be, so we will have to hear what Steve says, how he feels, and then as a football club where we stand on it as well.

“There is probably a lot to be discussed regarding it really.”

Cook was dropped to the bench in place of Lloyd Kelly for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, having played the past three games before the trip to the north east.

Those contests however were the Cherries stalwart’s only three league games under Parker.

Asked after the clash at Fulham earlier this month whether he thought he would be at Cherries after January, Cook replied: “It’s a tough question.

“Two weeks ago, I couldn’t see myself getting in a squad, let alone playing and leading a team out still.

“So, who knows? My contract is up in the summer. I have to protect myself, I have a young family – they are my motivation.

“I am 30 years old, I have played a lot of football. I am ready to take on anything that comes my way.

“I am excited, who knows? I haven’t really thought too far ahead since I have been in the team.

“I just want to give everything to the club, players and management staff right now and I’m sure there will be conversations in the coming weeks.

“I am sure they will happen because I am in the team right now. Obviously, in the summer I was told I could leave – it didn’t happen.

“We are a few months down the line now, a few weeks off the January transfer window, who knows?

“But my commitment has always been to the club and whatever comes my way, we will deal with it as myself and the club.

“Hopefully everything gets sorted out and I can continue to play football.”

Cook could be involved when Cherries make the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Monday.