It was August 1989 and Manchester United were set to play Arsenal at Old Trafford. The club's then chief executive, Martin Edwards, had just accepted a £20million takeover bid from businessman Michael Knighton, who decided to introduce himself to supporters in an unorthodox fashion.
Knighton took to the Old Trafford pitch ahead of kick-off, clad in boots and a training kit. Knighton was an ambitious 37-year-old with a dream of owning United and fans didn't know what to make of this figure bizarrely juggling the ball in front of the Stretford End. Knighton had the framework in place to take over the club but the deal collapsed shortly after his surprise Old Trafford audition after key investors withdrew their support.
There have been 33 years since Knighton's failed takeover attempt and United have enjoyed more success than any other club in England throughout that period, however, the club is now at a crossroads after a decade of failure and false promises.
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The club has wrestled with its identity over the last 10 years. There have been only three major trophies won since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and the two trophies that really matter, the Premier League and Champions League, have not been hoisted for nine and 14 years respectively. United have become synonymous with mediocrity and supporters want to be freed from the Glazers' shackles.
Last year's European Super League proposal was the catalyst for unprecedented protests against the Glazers and proved that anger against the American owners had not gone away, and it is being felt again this summer.
United endured their worst season for decades last year and this transfer window has become a circus, which has overshadowed the good feeling that followed Erik ten Hag's appointment. United fans are organising another protest against Liverpool on August 22, with some even vowing to block fellow supporters from entering Old Trafford to watch the match.
Knighton, who returned to the spotlight on Tuesday with an interview detailing his plan to take over the club - supported by a consortium - is back and he also genuinely wants change. He may have good intentions but the truth is that he's not a credible custodian for a takeover.
The majority of supporters have taken his interview with a large pinch of salt, but for other, perhaps younger fans, Knighton is providing false hope. Although Knighton's interview now has close to 200,000 views, it's hard to take his comments seriously. Knighton has not been involved in football since sending Carlisle into voluntary administration in 2002.
"My consortium is ready and waiting," Knighton says in the interview with Man Utd The Religion. "The funds are pledged, the offer document is being drawn up, and it will be presented. We're still waiting for the great Sir Jim Ratcliffe to come forward because he solves all of our problems, he makes my job redundant, but until Jim comes, my consortium will be placing their bid, very shortly, that I guarantee."
Chelsea were recently bought for £4.25billion and it's estimated United would sell for a similar figure. Knighton is a successful businessman in his own right, and the details of his consortium are conveniently unknown, but the chances of his group offering the Glazers such an astronomical fee the club are highly unlikely.
There has been a common theme with recent takeovers in the Premier League, and it is that credible, genuine takeovers are often not heard about or publicised until they are on the brink of being completed.
United fans are desperate for change and that means there are bound to be timewasters that look to take advantage of that, some for their own personal gain. It would be unfair to group Knighton in that category because he clearly does care and have an affection for the club, but he is not a credible alternative to the Glazers. That is the truth, which the majority of fans already know.
Knighton's interview was recorded and published at a time when momentum against the Glazers is building again. Although it has been successful in creating debate and adding to the calls to remove the Glazers, it's unlikely he'll be the person to remove them.
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