Michael Knighton
| Michael Knighton | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Michael Knighton 4 October 1951 Derbyshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Durham |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Website | www.michaelknighton.co.uk |
| Youth career | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | ||
| 1965–? | Everton | ||
| Coventry City | |||
| Teams managed | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1997–1998 | Carlisle United | ||
Michael Knighton (born 4 October 1951) is an English businessman, best known for his involvement in Manchester United and Carlisle United football clubs. Knighton first came to prominence in 1989 for his aborted £20 million bid to buy Manchester United, which resulted in him taking a seat on the club's board.
Knighton grew up in Derbyshire and was a footballer in his youth. His great-grandfather, Willie Layton, was part of Sheffield Wednesday's 1903 league championship-winning team and the FA Cup-winning team of 1907. As a teenager, Knighton spent a year as an apprentice at Coventry City. However, his football career was cut short due to a thigh injury. He studied at Bede College Durham University, where he gained a degree in physical education. He became a teacher in physical education and geography, and took a position at St. David's School (now Huddersfield Grammar School) in 1976. He was appointed headmaster in 1980, and bought the school in 1983. He stopped teaching in 1984 to focus on property interests.
Knighton first came to the attention of the public in August 1989, when he made a takeover bid of £20 million for Manchester United. At the time, this was a record figure for a British football club and the offer was accepted by chief executive Martin Edwards. Knighton promised to invest £10 million in the team's stadium, Old Trafford, as well as re-establish the club as England's top side. Knighton appeared on the pitch at Old Trafford before a game dressed in a full Manchester United football kit to publicise the takeover. Famously, he showed off his football skills by completing a long series of skilful "keepie ups". The vehicle for the takeover was a Knighton-controlled company, MK Trafford, based in the Isle of Man and set up specifically for the purpose. A £10m contract for Edwards' 50.06% stake was signed, subject to an audit of the club's accounts, with a £20 per share offer submitted to the club's other shareholders. The MK Trafford investors comprised Knighton, former Debenhams executive Bob Thornton and Stanley Cohen of the Betterware home shopping company. However, Thornton and Cohen pulled out in mid-September. Knighton sought other backers, with David Murray and Owen Oyston among those approached. As the deadline to complete the takeover loomed, Knighton abandoned his bid for control in exchange for a seat on the board.
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