Sports Think Tank founder Andy Reed has warned that the existence of volunteer sports clubs may be at risk following a shift in funding priorities referenced in the government sport strategy.

While the former Loughborough MP commended the Sporting Future document for its focus on areas of geographical deprivation – and on five outcomes including physical and mental wellbeing, social development and economic output – he said that the “baby must not be thrown out with the bath water” and that it was “crucial to maintain the existing system” which supports volunteer clubs.

Reed said that keeping the network of 150,000 sports clubs is “absolutely crucial”, adding: “It’s dead easy to say that voluntary clubs will carry on, but actually a lot of things are teetering as it’s hard for clubs to find volunteers and fund themselves.”

Addressing delegates during a conference titled A New Strategy for Sport: A Change of Approach in Manchester, he said: “There are going to be big shifts away from current funding streams to a place-based model, with heavy investment in a number of areas where the government is trying to make a big difference among the demographics who don’t participate in physical activity.”

Reed predicted that Sport England’s strategy – due to be published 17 May 2016 – would emphasise a “consumer focus” and a funding model which would resemble a “commissioning and purchasing” type arrangement in which organisations would bid for funding against the five outcomes targeted in the government strategy.

In terms of a geographic approach to funding project, Reed suggested that Sport England’s strategy would mirror its approach when funding Nottingham’s City of Football project, adding: “There will be places around the country picked upon to demonstrate how you can change people’s lives among the disadvantaged groups.

“A large part of the strategy will be like the City of Football on speed,” he added.