Museum chiefs hope the deal will secure its future

The move means that the public will be able to get into the museum free from Wednesday.

The North West Development Agency has bought the lease of the museum, with money being provided by the Football Foundation.

Last year, tourism minister Kim Howells refused to include the attraction in a state-funded scheme for free entry to museums.

The museum's bosses hope visitor numbers will increase now that admission will be free.

'Great news'

Marketing manager Mark Bushell told BBC News Online: "This now puts us on a level playing field with the other national museums which all have free admission.

"We were the only national museum in the country which was forced to charge.

"This represents great news."

The museum opened in 2001, with a Lottery grant of �9.5m.

It houses a huge collection of football memorabilia.

But it has proved less than popular with the public, attracting less than half its target of 80,000 visitors in the first year.