A book about controversial former Carlisle United owner Michael Knighton is finally set to be published this autumn.

Entitled 'Visionary', and written by Phillip Vine, it focuses mainly on Knighton's involvement at Manchester United.

The book's blurb describes the 1992-2002 Brunton Park supremo as "the most notable football entrepreneur of a generation".

Knighton has contributed to the book, which claims to tell the story of the period the businessman almost bought Manchester United.

He infamously went onto the Old Trafford pitch and introduced himself to Red Devils fans by juggling a ball and scoring in the net at the Stretford End in 1989.

He did not ultimately buy the club but instead joined the board before, three years later, taking over Carlisle United.

His reign at Brunton Park saw a period of initial success before descending into acrimony before he left in 2002.

Knighton had trailed the book on his own website several years ago, its publication originally said to be planned for 2014.

He said on Twitter earlier this year, though, that its release date had "zero to do with me..as it's not my book."

Knighton also claimed to be planning a "speaking engagement" in Carlisle which, he said, had been postponed in February but rescheduled for this August.

The book, published by Pitch Publishing, claims to "provide a fascinating insight into one of the most intriguing periods in Manchester United’s history, with the club on the verge of a dominance of English football never seen before."

It also claims it was Knighton's ideas that were put into action and turned Manchester United into the richest club in the world.

The book's promotional material also credits Knighton's "unacknowledged axis" with manager Alex Ferguson for the transformation of the club's fortunes on the pitch.

It is due to be published on September 16.

Knighton's own website, meanwhile, contains poetry and artwork produced by the former Carlisle chief, some of the latter being produced under the pseudonym 'Kongthin Pearlmich'.