Football: That was the weekend that was: Ambitious Knighton about to call it a day
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Your support makes all the difference.MICHAEL KNIGHTON is on the verge of declaring that his dream of turning Carlisle United into a Premiership force is finally over.
Even before Saturday's defeat at Exeter left the Cumbrians next to bottom of the Third Division, the controversial former Manchester United director confirmed he was ready to sell his club interest, reportedly for pounds 4m.
He is said to blame abuse from supporters "affecting my family life and my children" for pushing him to the point of abandoning his once- grandiose ambitions. Knight-on, who acquired notoriety from his attempt to buy out Martin Edwards at Manchester United, took over the then-ailing club in 1992. He boldly proclaimed that Carl-isle would be in the top flight "within 10 years", a prediction only reinforced when the team won the Third Division title in 1995, when he said that they "could be as big as Blackburn Rovers," that season's Premiership winners.
But Carlisle were relegated the following season. They again won promotion in 1997 but lasted a season. Among Knighton's other dreams was the establishment of a youth academy "to rival Auxerre or Ajax", but serious questions about his mental state were asked when he disclosed a conversation with aliens after spotting a UFO near the M62.
Last season, he engaged in a furious battle with the local News and Star newspaper, accusing their reporters of inciting fans to boycott match- es, stage sit-ins or walk-outs and chant vindictive abuse.
The paper responded by carrying the results of a poll that showed 91 per cent of supporters blame Knighton for Carlisle's predicament.
Even now, Knighton still has not abandoned his ideas, revealing he was trying to assemble a "dream team" coaching partnership of Mick Wadsworth, the manager of Scarborough and Peter Beardsley. Now that idea looks set to go the way of all the others.
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