Jimmy, who was speaking after it was announced the attraction is to move from Preston to Manchester, is one of three Seasiders legends featured in the museum's hall of fame.

He told The Gazette: "I think Blackpool Promenade would have been a good place for the museum, with its population of holidaymakers who might have paid it a visit.

"It's a shame Preston is losing it, because they started it and that's where the football league started. But the key thing is, you have to get people into museums.

"The only proof of a museum is how many people actually turn up, so it's a case of wait and see now. If Manchester think they can do it better, let's see if they can."

Trustees from the museum made the decision to move the attraction from its current home at Preston North End's Deepdale Stadium to the Urbis centre in Manchester, in a bid to boost visitor numbers.

However, a smaller secondary site will be retained in Lancashire to hold a number of exhibits and items in storage.

The new site is expected to draw in up to 400,000 visitors every year – four times more than at present.

Exhibits at the National Football Museum, which opened in 2001, include Stanley Matthews' kit from the 1953 'Matthews' FA Cup final when Blackpool beat Bolton.

Manchester's proposals will see £2m a year ploughed into an extended museum.

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

"We strongly believe this move will significantly strengthen the National Football Museum. Independent expert analysis shows the National Football Museum at Urbis could attract up to 400,000 visitors a year – making it an internationally important destination."

He added: "We've put forward a strong partnership proposal with Preston that we hope will ensure a continuing presence for the National Football Museum there alongside the main storage and archive, which will remain in its current location."