The Saints foundation, which provides football activities for all ages across the city, has been handed a grant of £17, 281 despite its close ties to Southampton Football Club.

The grant was given to the foundation on the understanding that council officers will open negotiations with the club about matching the grant.

Cllr Andrew Pope has argued that responsibility for funding the foundation - which he described as a 'public relations exercise' by Saints - should not fall to the council.

He said: “I welcome the Saints Foundation's work in my ward.

“But it should not be paid for by the council. It should not be the council funding their work.

“It should be the football business, and the players, who fund the volunteers or paid positions in the Saints Foundation, and not have funds taken from the true voluntary organisations.

“Effectively we're taking money away from diving when we have got an Olympic silver medallist living in the city, in my ward.”