Michael Knighton and Britain’s richest man, Sir James Ratcliffe, say their plans to acquire Manchester United are going ahead.
Knighton is a household name in Manchester United history. After failing with a bid to buy the club in 1989, he joined United’s board of directors. He left just a couple of years later, but now he’s back with more money. Sir James Ratcliffe, whose billionaire status stems from his chief executive role at chemical company Ineos, is the lead funder of the move.
Michael Knighton says that everything is “progressing” as planned, indicating discussions are happening behind the scenes.
The only problem is that the Glazer family isn’t looking to sell. The Glazers, who also own the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, took full ownership of the club in 2005. Since then, fans of the club have staged noisy protests against their ownership and management of the club. This boiled over in 2020 when United fans stormed Old Trafford before a game.
Regardless, the Glazers seem interested in holding on to the club. He is a revenue machine, with no club in England to match his popularity or sales.
Michael Knighton looking to take charge at Manchester United
With the heavy influx of money coming in each year, it’s clear why the Glazers don’t want to sell. Speaking to the fan channel “Man United the Religion”, Knighton sought to force the issue.
He wants to prepare an official document, even if the club is not for sale, to send a message. The message is simply ‘it’s time to go, and your time is up’.
In recent years, Manchester United fell on the road to cross-town rivals Manchester City. City runs a business that spreads success both on and off the field.
Knighton added that Manchester United’s current ownership group is unaware of the game. Knighton, for better or worse, played a managerial role at Carlisle during his time as owner of the club. While he didn’t exactly thrive at the fourth-tier club, he certainly has some insight into the game and its nuances.
Michael Knighton is a character. The Glazers are willing to stand firm on their property, despite Knighton’s claims that things are going according to plan.
PHOTO: IMAGO/PA Images
