The boss of a charity running five youth clubs in Wolverhampton has been suspended. Martin Stokes is chief executive of Wolverhampton Clubs for Young People (WCYP).

He has been absent from work since January.

The charity has received almost £50,000 from Wolverhampton City Council towards its clubs this year.

The exact nature of the allegations against Mr Stokes are not clear but it is understood there are concerns over financial mismanagement.

WCYP, which runs youth centres in All Saints, Blakenhall, Castlecroft, Compton and Claregate and has 40 volunteers, is run by a group of trustees who are looking into the matter.

The charity is affiliated to Clubs for Young People, the UK’s largest national voluntary youth organisation.

Matthew Patten, from CYP, confirmed Mr Stokes had been suspended. “Mr Stokes is undergoing a disciplinary hearing,” he said. “We are working with the trustees to help them resolve this matter in the best possible way.”

Tim Clark, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, which provided a grant of £47,404 to WCYP in 2006-7, said the council was aware the group had staffing issues which are being addressed by the trustees.