The National Football Museum will be moving to Manchester, it has been confirmed.

Trustees of the museum agreed today to relocate from Preston North End's Deepdale Stadium to Urbis.

A last-ditch bid by Preston and Lancashrie councils to keep the museum failed but the current museum is likely to remain as a secondary site.

It is believed Urbis will close for 18 months from early Spring next year.

Urbis will reopen as the National Football Museum in Summer 2011 following a refit.

It is not yet known if this will have an impact on jobs during that period.

Museum bosses hope to attract four times as many people to Urbis as Deepdale.

A target of 400,000 visitors has been set. Urbis currently attracts 265,000 visitors each year.

Manchester council will be expected to organise – and has agreed to underwrite - a funding package of up to £8m to prepare Urbis and move priceless exhibits from Preston.

The National Football Museum, which opened in 2001, was described as ‘a jewel’ by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Exhibits include the 1966 World Cup final ball, Bobby Moore’s shirt from the legendary England-Brazil match in 1970, and Stanley Matthews’ kit from the 1953 ’Matthews’ FA Cup final.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I’m delighted that the trustees have accepted our offer for the National Football Museum to relocate to Urbis."