The National Football Museum is to open in its new home, the former Urbis space in Manchester, early next year.  It had originally been due to open in the city this summer.

Until early 2010, the museum was based at Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium, but a funding crisis prompted the trustees to enter into a partnership with Manchester City Council, despite objections in Preston.

The move forced the closure of Urbis, which had become a popular temporary exhibition venue in Manchester, in March last year.

The project’s capital costs are £8m, with the European Regional Development Fund providing £3.9m, and the remainder coming from Manchester City Council.

The council has also pledged £2m annually in revenue funding, which a council spokesman said “would meet running costs”.

Until March, the museum received £105,000 annually from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). But this funding was cut following DCMS’s decision to relinquish control and sponsorship of eight non-national museums, including the National Football Museum.