``My personal opinion is that I'm waiting for the executioner,'' he said. ``I've got strong reason to believe they are going to stop funding us.''

Mr Clarke was to discuss the matter with DOCs officials on Monday but the meeting was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

The Advertiser was contacted by a concerned Ambarvale resident last week who said ``our

local youth centre is being closed down''.

It's believed the centre's funds will be diverted to larger charity and welfare organisations in the area.

A DOCS spokeswoman said the department ``is not cutting funding for youth services in the Ambarvale-Rosemeadow area'' but would not discuss the centre's future when pressed for further comment. She said any changes to funding would be in the best interest of the community.

Mr Clarke, who spoke out about long-standing social problems in Rosemeadow after January's brawl, has worked at the centre for 18 years and is credited with getting a netball program up and running. He said the centre could not stay open without DOCS support.