THE battle between Manchester and Preston to house the National Football Museum is going into extra time.

The Trustees of the world-famous attraction were expected to decide today tomorrow between rival bids from the two cities. Now they have decided to delay the meeting - claiming there are 'further issues which need careful deliberation'.

Paul Dermody, chairman of the trustees, said: "This is an important and highly complex issue and the trustees have a legal obligation to show that they have considered all the implications of both proposals. In consultation with our professional advisors, we have decided to postpone the meeting until we have a complete picture and have considered every issue that might arise.

"This is too important a decision to rush into and we believe that there are points that need greater clarification before the final decision is made. We must get it right."

The trustees have not yet set a new date on which a final decision will be made.

Lancashire and Preston councils - together with the University of Central Lancashire - have put forward a bid worth £400,000 a year to make sure the museum stays at its current home, Preston North End's Deepdale ground.

Manchester's rival bid would see £2m a year ploughed into a massively extended museum, which would be expected to attract four times as many visitors. It would be based at Urbis in the city centre.

The trustees have commissioned an independent report to help them choose between the two options.
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