Meanwhile former manager Roddy Collins, sacked by the club on Saturday night, is back home in Ireland and flatly denying that he ever applied for the vacant Preston North End job. Knighton's solicitor Joseph Glass who works for the legal firm Wacks Caller read out a statement that claimed Courtenay had failed to produce enough evidence to prove he could fund the proposed deal. Courtenay said: "A letter is going to Michael Knighton demanding a withdrawal of that statement or we will sue him for defamation." It all leaves the takeover hanging by a thread after a week in which the club has suffered a series of damaging blows to its credibility. Courtenay is determined to stick it out and insists it is Knighton who is holding everything up by refusing to release documents that will allow him to complete his financial due diligence and make a fresh offer. "The real delay is because we haven't had the information we need to complete due diligence. There is documentation still missing which both Michael Knighton and his solicitor are aware of," he added. Brooks Mileson's aborted bid to buy the club last September also floundered on the same issue. Speculation is now mounting as to what Knighton and his lawyers are trying to hide from Courtenay and previous contenders for the ownership. Knighton himself successfully sued The Sunday Times Illustrated History of Football over claims that he didn't have enough money to complete his proposed takeover of Manchester United in 1989. Knighton eventually withdrew after weeks of talks with then chairman Martin Edwards claiming the bad publicity in the media had damaged his reputation. He did become a director however and remained on the Old Trafford board until 1992 and his switch to Carlisle. Roddy Collins, back home in Dublin, has strongly denied claims made by Mark Knighton earlier this week that he had been "touting" himself around other clubs, including Preston North End, who were identified by the United director as one club he had faxed within hours of the departure from Deepdale of David Moyes. The press release which contained the allegations has since been removed from United's official website, presumably on legal advice. "It is absolutely untrue. I never applied for the Preston job. I was approached to apply for other jobs, but refused point-blank. My commitment is to John Courtenay, the players at the club, the supporters of the club and to Carlisle United in general. That was shown in my commitment to my job. I want to state quite categorically that I didn't apply for the Preston job or any other," he said. Collins is still hoping of being reinstated as manager as Courtenay has always said he would bring him back should he succeed in taking the club over. The focus now shifts to the supporters who have reacted with shock and rising anger at the week's events. A big demonstration is being planned for the home game with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday although details are being kept under wraps for the time being. Halli damaged house, court is told United striker Steve Halliday caused £19,000 damage to a house he was renting near Motherwell when he was playing for the Scottish Premier League side, a court has heard. The flat in Uddingston, Lanarkshire was described as "unletable" after Halliday vacated it in May 2000, three months after his move to United. The same month saw him sacked by the Cumbrians for staying up until the early hours of the morning in a night spot with fellow striker John Durnin before the relegation decider with Brighton on the final day of the season. Motherwell FC were presented with a bill for £19,000 to replace furniture and carry out running repairs to the house. Doors hung loose, electrical connections were exposed and Halliday's dog had left a revolting smell, it was claimed. While he was at Brunton Park, United paid him nearly £2,000 to cover his rent but the errant player admitted in court that he had kept it for himself. Judge Peter Bullock ordered Halliday to pay back £1,857.50 to Motherwell. Picture from News & Star www.newsandstar.co.uk |
