Manchester City Council (MCC) has confirmed that it is in discussions with trustees of the National Football Museum over the possibility of relocating the attraction to the city's Urbis centre.

Talks are still at an early stage over plans to move the museum from its home in Preston, Lancashire, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors every year but no longer has sufficient funds to remain at its current location.

Funding from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund was withdrawn at the end of March, but an annual contribution from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) means that the museum only has enough money to operate until the end of the year.

The Millennium Quarter Trust, which runs Manchester's Urbis venue, has agreed in principle to the plans that will see the National Football Museum's collections remain in storage at Preston when not on public display.

Paul Dermody, chair of Trustees of the National Football Museum, said: "While the museum has gone from success to success in Preston since it opened in 2001, the funding of the museum has always been a concern.

"But with the backing of Manchester City Council, DCMS and the football family its future will be secured and the museum's success will continue to expand as the collections and the community work it undertakes will be exposed to a significantly greater audience than at present."

Sir Richard Leese, MCC leader, added: "Manchester is renowned around the world for its footballing heritage and attracts more visitors than any English city outside London. Having a nationally significant football destination here would make perfect sense so when the National Football Museum approached us we were naturally keen to explore this exciting idea."

However, Preston City Council (PCC) has expressed its intention to keep the National Football Museum at its existing home, and will meet with the attraction's trustees to discuss its future.

PCC leader Ken Hudson said: "The National Football Museum is an important attraction for Preston and we desperately want the museum to stay in the city. We have an urgent meeting with museum representatives on Monday [14 September], when we will discuss the future of the museum."

Image: Daniel Hopkinson