Manchester United: Michael Knighton preparing bid to buy club from Glazer family

Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton has stated he is preparing a bid to purchase the club.

United have been owned by the Glazer family since 2005, who have constantly received mass criticism from fans for the way in which they have run the club since gaining control.

Protests have come and gone over the years, but pressure is beginning to mount once again after failing to fully back new manager Erik ten Hag in the transfer market and bring the changes that the club needs to return to the top of the footballing world.

United fans protested once again ahead of their opening game of the 2022/23 season, a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton, with the crowds forcing the closure of the megastore before the game.

The increased pressure for the Glazer family to sell the club has prompted Knighton to speak out and declare that he has a consortium ready to launch a ‘hostile bid’ to buy the club from the current owners.

Knighton is a name that will sound familiar to older United fans.

The 70-year-old businessman tried to purchase the Red Devils in 1989 in a takeover deal worth £20 million – a record fee for a British club at that point.

Martin Edwards, the club’s Chairman at the time, accepted the offer and Knighton even appeared on the pitch at Old Trafford in full kit, presented to fans while doing kick-ups.

But, his takeover deal would ultimately fall through as the fellow investors that were helping fund his takeover pulled out of the deal, leaving him unable to see through his promise of gaining total control and investing significantly.

It didn’t end his time associated with the club, though; Knighton would instead end up taking a seat among the board of directors as it became apparent that he could not fulfil the