Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton is hoping to “smoke out” Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe to help fund his takeover of the club.
Knighton, whose failed attempt to buy the Red Devils in 1989 went down in infamy, is hoping to now acquire them from the Glazer family. The interest has earned widespread popularity amongst supporters, all of whom are desperate for the departures of the deeply unpopular current stewards.
Last week, Knighton confirmed he was planning a “hostile takeover” at Old Trafford, in an attempt to end the Glazers’ 18-year stint at the Premier League giants. But with a reported net worth of around £5.8million Knighton accepts he would merely be the face of a consortium backed by several other interested billionaires.
United fans will be desperate for the inclusion of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of Ineos with a net worth closer to £11bn. But for now, Knighton is focusing on lower-profile money men, despite admitting they would be unable to compete with the resources of some of Europe’s super clubs.
"They are small-time billionaires that I have been speaking to for three to four months now", Knighton explained to ITV News. "When I was approached by some fan groups, oddly enough, saying 'look, our club is dying on its feet' would you please do something?'
"I made a few phone calls and I've been pulling this consortium together ever since. We are not the great Sir Jim Ratcliffe. We do not have those resources. We are not some nation state sovereign fund who has oil revenue of two billion a day. The point is: someone had to make a stand."
On potentially including Ratcliffe in the takeover, Knighton added: "If we can smoke the great Sir Jim out to buy Manchester United my consortium will be punching the air because we've achieved what we want to do.
"We will make the bid with our own consortium but, I'll tell you this, we do not have the resources available to do everything that is needed."
Ratcliffe had been touted as a potential runner to purchase Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, revealing why he hadn’t formulated an offer for his boyhood club instead. "You know, I have a split allegiance, effectively, really.
When I was in London for many many years, Chelsea I could go and watch, it was quite difficult to go and watch United,” he said earlier this year. “Yes, I mean, I can understand that (the calls for him to buy United) but Manchester United is not for sale."
United supporters are planning another protest against the club’s current owners before next Monday night’s game with Liverpool at Old Trafford. Fan group The 1958 have confirmed their intention to carry out a demonstration.
"We appreciate emotions are running high. We must keep it legal, we must keep it peaceful, we don’t want any Reds getting lifted and giving the Glazer propaganda machine a chance to spin the narrative,” their statement reads.
"Bring the heat, bring the noise, bring the passion. Let’s show the Glazer family that this time it will not blow over."
