English businessman Michael Knighton was once heavily involved with Manchester United.
The successful British player is reportedly preparing a hostile bid to buy back United from the Glazer family.
And Knighton calledManchester United "a club in danger".
But who is Michael Knight and what happened the last time he was involved with the Red Devils?
Who is Michael Knighton?
Born 4 October 1951 Michael He Knighton grew up in Derbyshire and spent most of his youth playing football.
As a teenager, Knighton played for Coventry City as his apprentice for a year before his career was cut short due to a thigh injury.
However, this allowed the successful businessman to pursue a degree in Physical Education (PE) from his College of Durham University, Bede, and concentrate on his studies.
Michael then went to St. Cuthbert He went to college and studied philosophy, politics and Mandarin, and in 1976 he became a physical education teacher and taught geography.
His first huge fortune was Manchester United, where he focused on real estate interests.
What happened to the previous Manchester United takeover deal?
Knighton made his £20 million takeover bid for Manchester United in August 1989 .
This was his second record number for his club in English football. This offer was accepted by the former Chief. Executive Martin Edwards.
Michael has promised a board member that he will invest his £10 million in Trafford.
He appeared on the pitch before the game in full uniform before completing a series of kick-ups.
The driving force behind the takeover was his Knighton-controlled company, MK Trafford Holdings, which saw his £10 million deal with Edwards signed.
However, with former Debenhams executives Bob Thornton and Stanley Cohen, who were investors in MK Trafford, pulling out of his mid-September period, Knighton was forced to raise other financial backers. became.
And even though Michael proved to United's chief executive, Martin Edwards, that he had the funds to complete the transaction, Knighton was denied a seat on the board of directors.
But after he and wife Rosemary were "publicly humiliated" in 1976 for claiming to have seen a UFO, the wealthy icon returned to football in 1997.
Michael Knighton turned his attention toCarlisle after signing with Manchester United.
Wealthy England He bought Carlisle in 1992. The Football League.
But initial success saw his new club win Division 3 and gain promotion in 1995 with a record 91 points.
What is Michael Knighton's net worth?
Knighton retired from football in 2002 and now spends his time painting, sculpting and writing poetry.
The British man has a reported net worth of £5.7 million.
