Martin Allen, the Cheltenham Town manager, has been suspended while the club investigate reports he racially abused a nightclub bouncer.

The 44-year-old has been told not to report for work at the League Two club after it was claimed he was involved in a incident outside the Thirteen Degrees nightclub in Cheltenham. Garry Saintil, a doorman at the club, has claimed that Allen called him a "black b******" after he was refused entry.

A statement released by the football club this morning read: "Due to adverse reports in the press today regarding Martin Allen the board of directors have informed Martin that he will not be required to attend work pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations that have been reported.

"Martin Allen has therefore been placed on garden leave and John Schofield has been asked to take temporary charge of team affairs pending the outcome of the club's investigation. At this time the club will not be making any further comment."

Allen, who was unavailable for comment this morning, took charge in September 2008 but was unable to prevent his side from being relegated from League One last season. His position has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks after a run of three wins in the opening 13 matches left them 20th in League Two.

Saintil told the Gloucestershire Echo that Allen's language had become "insulting and aggressive" when he was turned away after failing in his attempts to jump a queue of about 60 people.

"He was totally out of order. When he realised he wasn't going to be allowed into the club he became insulting and aggressive," he said. "There were racial undertones in the kind of language he was using and he referred to me as a black b******.

"I just told him not to waste his breath. There's no excuse for that kind of behaviour. He was totally obnoxious."

Gloucestershire Police have confirmed they will investigate the incident. "We did not receive any reports of this particular incident on the night it is alleged to have taken place and have not received any reports since," a police statement read.

"However, due to the nature of the allegations now being reported in the media we have taken the decision to look into it further.

"Officers will be in contact with the nightclub to speak to staff in order to establish if any crime has been committed."

The incident comes four months after Allen was barred from another pub in the town after allegedly dropping his trousers in front of pub-goers.

Attempts to contact Allen to get his account of the incident have been unsuccessful.