THE future of a showpiece collection of football memorabilia, due to go on display at Preston's new football museum, hangs in the balance after the owners threatened to sell the items off at private auction.

The FIFA collection, due to be displayed at the £12 million museum at Preston North End, is at the centre of a legal wrangle between joint owners FIFA, football's governing body, and American management firm SPI, who both own the £1 million collection.

SPI Management signed a contract with FIFA which guaranteed the world rights to manage and exhibit the collection and to merchandise collection-related products.

FIFA still owns the collection and its name.

But a fall-out between the two owners has led FIFA to seek a court order to void the arrangement so the collection can be sold.

SPI has launched its own action, suing FIFA for breach of contract.

SPI vice president Alan Hoffman said: "FIFA has failed to support the exhibition of the museum collection.

"When we complained, they tried to force us to sell them our share and commercial rights for a fraction of their worth."

"We want to see the collection put on display in Preston, but we have to protect our interests.

"We are quite prepared to take the stock to a public auction in which the collection will be dispersed and lost to the football world forever."

The threat over the collection comes just days after the FA pledged to buy Bobby Moore's memorabilia for the museum from his wife.

A spokesman for FIFA said the matter had arisen following FIFA's attempt to regain full ownership and rights for the collection.

Rob Pratton, of the Football Museum, said: "We are sure the collection will arrive at the museum but we cannot discuss the action in detail."

And football hero Sir Tom Finney commented: "Money is all too often dictating the game.

"The memorabilia from FIFA is very old and very important, so it would be a great shame if fans of the game didn't get to see it at the new museum."

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