A CHARITABLE trust has stepped in to safeguard the future of a flagship community centre after its original managers pulled out.

When Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council announced plans for the £1m Golden Boy Green complex, it was expected that it would be run by the South Bank Community Forum.

The complex, designed to provide a range of sports, health, arts and business opportunities, is due for completion in January, having been developed using cash from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

It is considered vital to the regeneration of South Bank, but now, the forum, which handles Government funding for the area, has withdrawn from the project.

Yesterday, councillors agreed to replace it with the authority's own charitable trust, Tees Valley Leisure, for the first five years of the complex's life.

Last night, a forum spokesman denied that its decision to pull out was linked with an ongoing council investigation into financial problems.

He said: "The forum's decision on the Golden Boy Green project is entirely separate from other recent issues - and it should be stressed that the forum welcomes the project, and does wish to be involved with it.

"The forum's decision not to be involved at a management level related to its concern over the resources required to undertake the responsibilities involved."

The Single Regeneration Board learned of the forum's position at a meeting last month, and began considering other options.

It was decided that Tees Valley Leisure, which could offer a clear structure and had expressed strong interest in taking over, would provide the best solution.

The trust will enter an agreement, which will allow it, or the council to terminate the arrangement after five years.

A council spokesman said it was happy with the new partnership.