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At the CCPR's annual conference in London, the organisation's chairwoman, Brigid Simmonds, said that "the data shows that sports clubs are in trouble and that thousands could go under".

She added: "Even those who survive the recession are telling us they are going to have to make cutbacks... in coaching, investment in kit and community programmes."

Simmonds then called on the Government to introduce a moratorium on new regulations, laws and charges affecting clubs, citing threatened increased liquor licensing fees, water drainage charges and music license fees as being among the problems clubs were facing.

The CCPR survey also showed that the economic downturn has had a negative impact on the recruitment of volunteers as well as the number of new membership inquiries.

All told, a pretty grim outlook. Or is it? Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, has another view. That's not to say he rejects those findings, or doesn't think times are tough. He does, but here's his take.

I asked him if he recognised the parlous state as described by the CCPR. He told me:
"I don't see it in those terms. Sport is in a position of fundamental strength. Investment is rising in school sport, club sport. It is tough, but sport is incredibly well placed to get through (the recession). There's a resilience at the heart of sport. It's a moment for great optimism not pessimism. Years ago, sport had to work hard to be heard in government but today has won that argument."

There's no doubting his personal commitment to securing the future of community sports clubs, but I questioned whether he could persuade his cabinet colleagues in the big-hitting departments to support the idea of making exceptions for sports clubs in the areas of licensing, rates and taxes.

I mean, if Scout and Guide fees can be Gift Aided, why not sport clubs fees? He pointed to previous successes, like getting the compulsory criminal records check free of charge for those who work with children at sports clubs, and promised to continue to make efforts for sport in that respect.

The CCPR and the Department for Culter, Media and Sport know the treasury's door is bolted shut. Burnham wrung every last penny out of Alistair Darling in order to fund elite sport ahead of the London Olympics in 2012, so he needs another target - and in professional sports, like football, rugby and cricket, he's found one.

"To be fair, most sports do cascade money down through the system, but they're calling on the government to do more," he told me. "I'm calling on them to do more.

"Not all sports are investing as much as they should be in the base of their sports. It's their own self interest to do that. Too much does evaporate at the top in end payments of wages and to individuals. It does need to come down the system, and I'll carry on banging that drum. It's a shared responsibility."