The news that Harry Redknapp had left West Ham sent shockwaves through football last week and the fall-out even reached Albion's south coast rivals AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries have had a special relationship with the Hammers ever since Redknapp - their most successful manager - walked out of Dean Court in the summer of 1992 and within a month was at Upton Park as assistant to Billy Bonds.

Dubbed "Harrygate" at the time, Redknapp's controversial departure, including a golden handshake and his quick appointment with West Ham, upset Cherries fans but any ill-feeling is long-gone and continued links between the two have been highly-beneficial to the Division Two side.

This season Redknapp allowed striker Jermain Defoe to go to Dean Court on loan to the end of the season and Cherries manager Sean O'Driscoll reaped the benefits.

Defoe finished as leading scorer with 18 goals and sparked a surge up the table which culminated in heartbreak on the last day of the season as they just missed out on the play-offs.

Defoe, who was as shocked as anyone by the departure of his "mentor" from the hot-seat at Upton Park, is just one in a long line of players to have enjoyed spells with the Dorset side.

Leeds' record-breaking signing from the Hammers Rio Ferdinand had an impressive spell with the Cherries and O'Driscoll's predec-essor Mel Machin regularly turned to his old mate Harry while he was in charge and signed no fewer than 13 young Hammers either on loan or permanently during his time as manager.

Cherries fans may now fear that the exit of their friend in high places means that the steady stream of Hammers to Bournemouth's warmer climes is over and current boss O'Driscoll has admitted as much although he is not too worried.

O'Driscoll said: "Former managers tend to have a special relationship with their previous club and that is something we will miss now that Harry is no longer at West Ham."

He added: "I don't think our relationship with West Ham will be affected, but a lot depends on who takes over from Harry. A lot could also depend on where Harry ends up.

"But because he knows so many people in the game, I am sure he would give this club a good reference if anybody asked him whether they should send us a player or not."

Redknapp, who has a house in Poole, has been linked with the vacant manager's post as Southampton in recent weeks.

Cherries fans regard Southampton as their rivals, although Saints fans are rather indifferent to their lower League south coast cousins.

However, if Harry was to take charge at St Mary's Stadium, who might Cherries be able to attract on loan?

When Cherries former assistant boss John Williams had his testimonial game against Saints a few years ago, Cherries fans taunted Matt Le Tissier with the chant "You'll never play for England, you'll never play for England."

The Saints fans responded with, "He'll never play for Bourne-mouth, he'll never play for Bournemouth".

Maybe, just maybe, those Saints fans could be proved wrong.

Striker Warren Feeney is poised to join the club permanently from Leeds United after a successful end-of-season loan period.