Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire have teamed up to devise a funding package to help the National Football Museum avoid relocating to Urbis in Manchester.
A financial crisis at the Preston museum has prompted talks with Manchester City Council about relocating the institution. Kevin Moore, the museum's director, said it did not have sufficient funds to stay in its current location.
But a Lancashire County Council spokesman said the museum's trustees were considering a proposal which aimed to secure the attraction's long-term future in Preston "with a promise of immediate investment, backed by a plan to attract sponsors, boost visitor numbers and revamp the exhibition space".
The councils have given £25,000 each to the museum this year, but the new package would mean an immediate injection of at least £400,000.
"An additional £3m needed to refit and refresh the museum would also be made available, subject to a business case being prepared," added the council spokesman. "This may be funded in part with match funding from the North West Regional Development Agency."
The new plan also proposes that items from the 15,000-piece collection go on show in exhibitions at museums across the north west.
A financial crisis at the Preston museum has prompted talks with Manchester City Council about relocating the institution. Kevin Moore, the museum's director, said it did not have sufficient funds to stay in its current location.
But a Lancashire County Council spokesman said the museum's trustees were considering a proposal which aimed to secure the attraction's long-term future in Preston "with a promise of immediate investment, backed by a plan to attract sponsors, boost visitor numbers and revamp the exhibition space".
The councils have given £25,000 each to the museum this year, but the new package would mean an immediate injection of at least £400,000.
"An additional £3m needed to refit and refresh the museum would also be made available, subject to a business case being prepared," added the council spokesman. "This may be funded in part with match funding from the North West Regional Development Agency."
The new plan also proposes that items from the 15,000-piece collection go on show in exhibitions at museums across the north west.
