Just when it seemed the circus at Manchester United could not become more of a joke, along comes former ringmaster Michael Knighton.
For fans of a certain vintage, Knighton is a clown, the ball-juggling wannabe, who promised the world, but failed to deliver. He was feted like a rockstar by supporters when he agreed to buy United from Martin Edwards for £20million in 1989, then a record for a British club.
But his takeover never went through because he failed to come up with the cash, although he did sit on the United board for the next three years. Knighton, 70, who famously declared he had been contacted by aliens, bought Carlisle in 1992 and ran the Cumbrian club for the next decade.
The former Coventry City apprentice has been out of football since leaving Carlisle, but now claims he wants to return and drive out the Glazers from United. He savaged their running of United over the last 17 years and claims the club is in crisis because of their mis-management.
“The club is in crisis and it will remain in crisis while we have this current ownership,” he said. “We need to rid our football club of this ownership as they have had their day, time has run out and we have had 17 years of disappointment, really. It is time for them to go. They have to stop drawing these huge dividends out of the club. We have to stop paying these huge debt servicing costs.
“It is time for them to sell. Putting this bid together, I don’t need to be the front person, I don’t need to be the spokesperson. I just want to see our Manchester United Football Club in the hands of proper football people with proper vision. We need to repair our stadium and put our club back where it belongs. We are in crisis and it won’t alter until they go.
“Frankly, fans worldwide have had enough of this regime. The exciting feeling of a new season, which we all have, and that balloon of excitement that is there, it was all burst when we quickly saw the performance against Brighton.”
Fans are divided by Knighton’s takeover claims and those who remember him from 33 years ago have dismissed him as “a bluffer” on twitter. But those who are younger are so desperate to see the back of the Glazers that they are prepared to support him. One fan said on twitter, “show us the money and I’ll name my first born after you.”
Knighton failed to come up with the cash in 1989 and it is hard to see him succeeding this time when United is valued in the billions. He perhaps gave the game away when he admitted United fan and business tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe could “solve all our problems” and his bid could be little more than an attempt to flush the billionaire out.
Knighton insists he is operating independently of Ratcliffe and that he will soon be able to present a takeover proposal to the Glazers. “My consortium is ready and waiting,” he said. “The funds are pledged. The offer document is being drawn out and it will be presented very shortly. That I can guarantee you.” Roll up, roll up, the circus is back in town.
