The Knighton family have refused so far to comment on the situation at Brunton Park. As many as 10 players are expected to be released when their contracts expire at the end of June. The revelations that the wages have not been paid, together with evidence that players have been paid late or underpaid during the second half of the season will increase the pressure on discredited owner Michael Knighton. The under-fire ex-chairman of United, now banned for five and a half years as a director, claimed the £700,000 unpaid tax bill was an overestimate by "several hundred thousand pounds" but admitted it was still substantial and that the total debt was "under £2 million". Mr Knighton this week appeared to backtrack on his comments that the city of Carlisle didn't deserve a league club and that he was considering resigning them from the Football League. He now says he is thinking of "gifting" his shares to "non-confrontational, non-CCUIST" supporters, providing they get financial help from local businesses. Under this proposed scheme, Mark Knighton would remain at the club and would provide lines of credit and financial guarantees. He also claimed that the plan to shut down United came not from him but from his son Mark Knighton and fellow director Andrea Whittaker. He said it was a direct consequence of policies followed by "Alan Steel's CCUIST movement" and the local media. Meanwhile fans' trust CCUIST are stepping up their Knighton Out day of action tomorrow and today the city council provided strong backing with a massive display on the front of the Civic Centre. The words CARLISLE CITY VISION WANTS A FOOTBALL CLUB TO BE PROUD OF spelled out in letters the size of windows provided a powerful message to visitors driving around Hardwicke Circus. More banners at the entrances to the city, a banner flown from the top of Dixons' Chimney and a man in an alien mask who will parade around the town centre are all features on show tomorrow afternoon. Members of CCUIST will also be collecting signatures for the News & Star's Stop Knighton petition, which will be passed on to the relevant authorities. A similar petition last year was signed by 16,000 people, believed to be the biggest in Cumbria's history. Sunday sees a planned go-slow convoy through the city as cars displaying Knighton Out posters drive through the streets to gather support. Householders throughout Carlisle are being given banners to display in their front windows and in their cars. Thousands are expected to be on display. Many hundreds more have been downloaded by fans on the internet and will be visible in many British cities as well as overseas. When Louise (and Julian) met Michael Michael Knighton received a surprise visitor as he went about his business as a joint licensee of Carys Wine Bar in Ashbourne, Derbyshire last Saturday. Intrepid News & Star reporter Julian Whittle, the paper's business editor, together with his partner Louise popped into the bar on their way back from last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. It had been feared that fans would have caused trouble at the bar, one of Knighton's few business interests outside of Carlisle United. But in the event the day passed off relatively quietly. Knighton treated Whittle to a 40-minute monologue during which he attacked Alan Steel of CCUIST as a "rabble rouser" and continued his onslaught against the local press. He denied that four "heavies" posted outside the front doors were bouncers. When quizzed about his intentions regarding Carlisle United, Knighton admitted he would never sell. "We Knightons are men of steel," he said. "We are not cotton wool." Picture from News & Star www.newsandstar.co.uk |
