Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton is preparing a hostile bid to buy the club from Glazers

Michael Knighton, who was director of United between 1989-92, has spoken to Man United The Religion on the club’s current state and his efforts to purchase the club.

“We are a club in crisis, and we all know the reason why. We have an inept and frankly useless ownership who knows little about this game of football,” Knighton explained.

“Everyone knows that we need new ownership of this football club. That is my aim, those are my objectives.

Explaining on what a 'hostile bid' meant, he said: “That simply means the club isn’t officially for sale, but my intention is to present these owners with a legitimate and potent and proper commercial offer to say ‘you’ve run out of road, it's time to go, because your time is up’.

“The exciting feeling of a new season which we all have, and that balloon of excitement is there but it was quickly burst when we saw the performance against Brighton.

Manchester United fans have been begging for a new regime to take over the club for a long time, and Knighton’s words will come as encouraging to many.

“By all means take your own separate legal independent, legal advice and financial advice, you must do that, but this shareholding gives the fans frankly nothing.”

When questioned on the protests that have been happening over the last season or so, Knighton was completely understanding and sympathetic towards them.

“It’s inevitable that fans are going to protest because of the frustration, because of the disappointment; what else can they do which shows their disappointment with these protests?

“So, yes, the protests will continue, that is inevitable, until they bring about what everyone wants, which is change.”

We’re still waiting for the great Sir Jim Ratcliffe to come forward because he solves all our problems, makes my job redundant, but until Jim comes, my consortium will be placing their bid very shortly – that, I guarantee.”