Michael Knighton was born on 4 October 1951 and is an English businessman, best known for his involvement in Manchester United and Carlisle United football clubs.
23 Facts About Michael Knighton
2.
Michael Knighton grew up in Derbyshire and was a footballer in his youth.
3.
Michael Knighton studied at Durham University's Bede College, where he gained a degree in physical education, before returning to St Cuthbert's College, Durham, to study philosophy, politics, and Mandarin Chinese.
4.
Michael Knighton became a teacher in physical education and geography, and took a position at St David's School in 1976.
5.
Michael Knighton was appointed headmaster in 1980, and bought the school in 1983.
6.
Michael Knighton stopped teaching in 1984 to focus on property interests.
7.
The vehicle for the takeover was a Michael Knighton-controlled company, MK Trafford Holdings, based in the Isle of Man and set up specifically for the purpose.
8.
Michael Knighton sought other backers, with David Murray and Owen Oyston among those approached.
9.
Michael Knighton proved to Martin Edwards and his legal team that he had secured funds to complete the deal, but as the deadline to complete the takeover loomed, Michael Knighton abandoned his bid for control in exchange for a seat on the board.
10.
In 1992, Michael Knighton left his job on the Manchester United board after buying out Carlisle United, a football club based in the Cumbrian city of Carlisle.
11.
At the time, Carlisle United were in the bottom division of the Football League and Michael Knighton set about building up the club who he claimed he could return to the top league of English football, the Premier League.
12.
In 1996, Michael Knighton threatened to sue the local newspaper, the Evening News and Star, and resign from the football club after being "publicly humiliated" over claims he and his wife Rosemary had seen a UFO in 1976.
13.
Michael Knighton kept himself as head coach until December 1998, when he handed the job over to Nigel Pearson.
14.
Michael Knighton remained chairman of the club, but no longer had the financial resources to achieve another promotion.
15.
Michael Knighton became increasingly unpopular with fans, a group of whom formed an independent supporters' trust, known initially as CCUIST and today as The United Trust, to protest against his control and lobby for more fan involvement in the club.
16.
Irishman John Courtenay was later backed to take over, but negotiations were protracted and Michael Knighton fired manager Roddy Collins for his comments over the deal.
17.
On 25 June 2015, Michael Knighton commented on the Carlisle United takeover bid from a reputed billionaire.
18.
Michael Knighton needs to be transparent, to say that this is who I am and this is where the club will be at the end of my ownership.
19.
Since leaving Carlisle United in 2002, Michael Knighton has not returned to the city.
20.
Michael Knighton is retired from football and currently spends his time painting, sculpting and writing poetry.
21.
In 2008, Michael Knighton exhibited some of his artworks, a mix of sculpture and painting, at King's College Chapel in Cambridge.
22.
At the time, Michael Knighton used the pseudonym and near-anagram of his name "Kongthin Pearlmich", as he did not want to attach his past links with his football career.
23.
In 2022, Michael Knighton exhibited two works at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.