Who is Michael Knighton? Meet the man who wants to buy Manchester United from the Glazers

Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton has confirmed that he and a consortium are in the process of drawing up a bid to try and buy Manchester United from the Glazer family.

The Glazers, who bought United in 2005, are under increasing pressure to sell the club following a hugely underwhelming summer in the transfer window. The appointment of Erik ten Hag as the club's new manager was supposed to signal the beginning of a new dawn at the club, but a lack of activity in the transfer market has increased pressure on the American family to sell up.

Hundreds of United supporters staged a protest against the Glazers ahead of Sunday's Premier League season opener against Brighton, marching from MediaCity to Old Trafford. Once inside, anti-Glazer chants rang around the stadium, with Avram Glazer, attending for the first time in almost a year, watching from the directors' box.

READ MORE: Michael Knighton confirms plan to purchase Manchester United

Their ownership of the club has become untenable, with supporters pleading with them to sell up. Perhaps music to the ears of United fans, Knighton has confirmed that he, with the support of a consortium, wants to buy the club. But who exactly is Knighton? Here is everything you need to know about him:

Who is he?

Knighton is a 70-year-old British businessman who started out in life by trying to become a footballer. He secured an apprenticeship as a youngster at Coventry City but was forced to cut his footballing career short because of injury.

Following that, Knighton moved into teaching, becoming a P.E teacher at what is now known as Huddersfield Grammar School. He would later go on to become headteacher at the school, before ditching a teaching career in 1984 to take up