Manchester United’s share price rocketed by 11.94 per cent following Michael Knighton’s interview for Man Utd The Religion.
It is reportedly the biggest rise in United shares on a single day for nine years.
In the interview, the 71-year-old former Carlisle United owner and chairman laid out his plans for an offer to buy Man Utd.
He said: “We are a club in crisis and we all know the reason why. We have an inept and frankly useless ownership who know little about this game of football.
“Everyone knows that we need new ownership of this football club and that is my aim and those are my objectives. I am making good progress, continuing to talk to the people, I have got some good pledges and good finance.
“We are now working on the offer document. Remember, it is a hostile bid – that simply means that the club isn’t officially for sale. But my intention is to present these owners with a legitimate, potent and commercial offer to say: ‘You have run out of road, it’s time to go, because your time is up.’”
The Glazers appear to be under increased criticism and on Sunday there was a sizeable protest against them before the game at Old Trafford against Brighton.
There is even a suggestion that fans will stage a walk-out at their next big home game against Liverpool.
However, there are significant and well-founded doubts about Knighton’s chances of going through with a take-over his prospects of completing a takeover. But his actions may have prompted more substantial attempts to be made to end the Glazer’s reign.
Knighton himself seems to indicate that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest man, might be the one to eventually take control of the club.
“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.”
“My consortium is ready and waiting, the funds are pledged, the offer document is being drawn up, and it will be presented,” Knighton has said.
