But the shirt is back – after the Lancashire Evening Post decided to dress up our own dummy to stand proud outside the under-threat Deepdale attraction.

The shirts – produced by the Lancashire Evening Post – were worn by Preston North End players before their Carling Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur on September 23.

One of them was handed over to a fan who works at the museum after the game.

The supporter, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "The kit man gave me it as there was one going spare.

"I took it in brand new and one of the girls put it on.

"It was in the coffee shop window and one of the managers saw it and told them to take it off.

"Two days later, it wasn't there. It says it all."

A museum worker, who asked not to be named, said: "The reason I was given for why it was taken off is that we are not allowed to take sides and be biased in any way, not allowed to speak to the media or express any opinion.

"People were asking about it and if they could buy one. We could have sold a lot of those."

He also revealed that most of the 18 workers are opposed to the museum leaving.

He said of the atmosphere: "It's very subdued. The morale of the staff, especially in the front of the house, is very low. There is a veil of silence."

The team has noticed an increased number of calls from staff at Manchester's Urbis exhibition centre – where the museum could be moved to – while its marketing manager has been at the site looking at the displays, he added.

Mayor Coun Keith Sedgewick said he was stopped from handing out "Save Our Museum" leaflets at the museum during a visit.

He said: "They didn't want any flyers. Because the museum is open to the public, it shouldn't be a problem."

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