Just when it seemed like the Manchester United circus couldn't be more of a joke, former ringmaster Michael Knighton came along.
For fans of a certain age, Knighton was a clown, Ball he was a juggling wannabe, a promise made to the world that never materialized. He was hailed like a rock star by supporters when he agreed to buy United from Martin Edwards for £20m in 1989.
However, although he served on United's board for the next three years, he was unable to raise funds and the acquisition never materialized. Knighton, 70, famously claimed to have 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 kick the Glazers out of United. have been ravaging United's operations for the past 17 years, blaming their mismanagement for the club's crisis.
"The club is in crisis and it will continue as long as we hold on to our current ownership," he said. “We need to remove this ownership from the football club. They have had their day and time has run out and we have been really disappointed for 17 years. It is time for them to go. We have to stop withdrawing huge dividends, we have to stop paying these huge debt servicing costs.
"It is time for them to sell. To sum up this bid, I don't have to be the front person, I don't have to be the spokesperson.Manchester United Football Club is in the hands of the right footballer with the right vision. I just want to see, we need to repair the stadium and put the club back in place, we are in danger and it will not change until they leave.
I'm fed up with the system and when I saw the immediate performance against Brighton, the excitement of the new season that we all have and all the excitement balloons out there burst." 44} Fans were divided by Knighton's takeover claim, with those who remembered him 33 years ago dismissing him as a "bluffer" on Twitter. But young people are eager to see Glazers back, so they are ready to support him. One fan took to Twitter and said, "Show me the money and I will name my first child in your name."
Knighton said he failed to raise money in 1989, but it will be difficult for him to succeed this time around when United are worth billions of dollars. He probably admitted that United fan and business mogul Sir Jim Ratcliffe could "solve all our problems" and that his bid was just an attempt to kick out the billionaire.
Knighton claims that he operates independently of Ratcliffe and could immediately submit an acquisition offer to Glazers. The consortium is ready and waiting," he said. "Funding has been promised. Offer documents are being drafted and will be presented shortly. Hope you can vouch." Roll-up, roll-up, the circus is back in town.
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