Knighton insists Alex call Fergie time on Glazers

IT was 33 years ago on Friday since Sir Alex Ferguson watched on as Michael Knighton juggled a ball from Old Trafford’s centre circle and smashed a volley into the Stretford End goal.

Now Knighton has called on the greatest manager in the club’s storied history to do the right thing and help him bring an end to the Glazer family’s ownership.

Knighton, 70, the man who was on the cusp of buying United for just £20milion on that August day in 1989, cannot understand how Ferguson and former chief executive David Gill can live with themselves while the club they helped build is being run into the ground by the owners.

The Glazers have taken out more than £1billion in the 17 years since they completed a leveraged takeover that weaponised the fanbase.

Knighton has put together a consortium that includes what he describes as “small billionaires”.

But he admits the greatest hope of salvation is Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the multi-billionaire Mancunian who is a big United fan.

The Glazers insist the club is not for sale and Knighton believes Ferguson must now play his part in convincing the Americans to take the money and run. “I call out Sir Alex Ferguson and I call out David Gill,” said Knighton.

“I also call out Michael Edelson, who was a director when I spent three years on the United board, and chairman Martin Edwards, who used the blueprint I put forward to begin the transformation of the club into the powerhouse it became.

“Ferguson, Gill and Edelson still work alongside the Glazers. How can they stand by and allow the wilful destruction of Manchester

United to continue?

“Ferguson only has to look at where the team are in relation to Manchester City and Liverpool.

“Look at Old Trafford. One of the most iconic stadiums in the world, in such a state of disrepair that it’s an embarrassment.”