Against the backdrop of protests by active Manchester United fans against the American owners of the Glazer club, a “knight” has appeared ready to buy the club and is already preparing an offer that cannot be refused. Michael Knighton has already tried to become the owner of the Red Devils.
Before the match of the first round of the Premier League “Manchester United” – “Brighton” fans of the “devils” again protested, as they have been doing for many years. They marched through the grounds of Old Trafford with pyrotechnics and shouting. The noise was so powerful that even the club shop had to be closed.
The crowd called on the American owners of the Glazer team to sell the club and perish from English football. They never liked Glazers – Americans! But the last ten years have been a terrible period for Manchester United, which now rejoices in winning the Europa League and changes coaches more often than Spartak.
The other day, British real estate tycoon Michael Knighton announced himself as a savior, ready to buy a club that, by the way, is not for sale. At least, the American family does not have such intentions. But Knighton claims that his “consortium is preparing a very specific proposal” that apparently cannot be refused.
“The club is in crisis and we all know why ,” Knighton told Man Utd The Religion. – We have inept and frankly useless owners who know little about European football. We need a new owner and that’s my goal.
Michael Knighton already made a powerful offer more than 30 years ago. In 1989, he almost managed to buy Manchester United for 20 million pounds – then it was hoo what money. British football record. CEO Martin Edwards was impressed, they practically shook hands.The new owner really wanted the fans to love him, so he went out to get acquainted with Arsenal before the match, dressed in a Manchester United kit. And he began to perform tricks with the ball.
Martin Edwards later said that it was at that moment that he realized what a mistake he had made: “I was horrified. And kept repeating what the hell I did.”
But for Edwards then everything ended well. Knighton managed to quarrel with partners and investors, they pulled out of the deal, and he himself did not have so much money. 15 years later, Malcolm Glaser took over Manchester United for £800m.
Michael Knighton did not lose heart. He withdrew his offer in exchange for a seat on the club’s board of directors. He worked there until 1992, when he bought the lower division club Carlisle United. The team had a short successful period, but in 1997 Knighton appointed himself head coach and the team was relegated from the second division. By the 2000s, fans began to protest against the owner, and the club was sold two years later.
And now Michael Knighton is trying to make a second coming to Manchester United. It is not yet clear what the very “consortium” that is preparing the proposal is. But it is known that Knighton’s fortune is only 5.8 million pounds. You can’t even buy half of Cristiano Ronaldo for him.
