Man United new owner: Michael Knighton to buy Manchester United – Former Man United director, Michael Knighton, who came close to buying Manchester United in the 1980s, claims to be planning an astonishing ‘hostile’ bid to buy out the Glazer family. The American owners are under increasing pressure to sell the Old Trafford club following a disappointing sixth-place finish in last season’s Premier League and with over 70,000 tweets of #EmptyOldTrafford trending on Twitter. Follow Man United latest news updates on InsideSport.IN
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Man United new owner: Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton prepares BID to buy out the Glazer family as #EmptyOldTrafford trends on Twitter, Follow LIVE UPDATES
Michael Knighton: “Everyone knows that we need new ownership in this football club. That is my aim those are objectives. We’re now working on the offer document. Remember it’s a hostile bid which means the club isn’t for sale.“ [MUTR, YT] #mufc
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) August 9, 2022
- Property magnate Knighton attempted to buy Manchester United in 1989
- He famously performed keepie uppies on the Old Trafford pitch as a stunt
- But key investors pulled out and Knighton wasn’t able to complete his takeover
- Now in an interview, Knighton, 70, claims he wants to buy out the Glazer family
- American owners have become increasingly unpopular amid poor results
- They insist United aren’t for sale even as fan protests become a common sight
Man United new owner: Michael Knighton prepares BID to buy out the Glazer family
The 70-year-old served on United’s board between 1989 and 1992 and is plotting a sensational return to Old Trafford. Knighton had initially tried to buy the Red Devils for £20m, before accepting a position on the board as the deadline to prove his funds loomed.
Speaking to Man United The Religion, he said: “Everyone knows that we need new ownership of this football club. That is my aim, those are my objectives.
“I’m making good progress, I continue to talk to the people, I’ve got some good pledges with good finance. We are now working on the offer document – remember, it’s a hostile bid.”
Clarifying the definition of “hostile”, he added: “That simply means the club isn’t officially for sale, but my intention is to present these owners with a legitimate and potent and proper commercial offer to say ‘you’ve run out of road, it’s time to go, because your time is up. And frankly the fans worldwide have had enough of this regime.”
Knighton was scathing of United’s current Glazer ownership, remarking: “We are a club in crisis, and we all know the reason why. We have an inept and frankly useless ownership who knows little about this game of football.”
#EmptyOldTrafford trends on Twitter with over 70,000 tweets
The build-up to United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday was overshadowed by a supporter protest calling for the Glazer family to go.
Knighton continued: “The exciting feeling of a new season which we all have, and that balloon of excitement is there but it was quickly burst when we saw the performance against Brighton.
“Quite honestly, the Lionesses, we could have played them and I think they’d have got a better result. The club is in crisis and it will remain in crisis whilst we’ve got this current ownership – that’s the situation.”
On the protests themselves, he added: “It’s inevitable that fans are going to protest because of the frustration, because of the disappointment; what else can they do which shows their disappointment with these protests?
Michael Knighton hopes for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to come forward
“The protests are brilliantly organised, they are peaceful – that’s very important – no one would support violence. These are peaceful protests by the fans simply saying ‘look, we want change – preferably we want regime change’.
“So, yes, the protests will continue, that is inevitable, until they bring about what everyone wants, which is change.”
In a final message to fans, he concluded: “My consortium is ready and waiting, the funds are pledged, the offer document is being drawn up, and it will be presented.
“We’re still waiting for the great Sir Jim Ratcliffe to come forward because he solves all our problems, makes my job redundant, but until Jim comes, my consortium will be placing their bid very shortly – that, I guarantee.”
Knighton left the Red Devils’ board in 1992 to buy Carlisle United.
Man United new owner: Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton prepares BID to buy out the Glazer family as #EmptyOldTrafford trends on Twitter, Follow LIVE UPDATES
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