Quick Facts
Biography
Ken Knighton (born 20 February 1944) is a former English footballer, coach and manager. He is most well known for his spell as manager at Sunderland A.F.C.
Already at the club as a coach, he succeeded caretaker Billy Elliott as manager in the summer of 1979. Sunderland achieved promotion back to the First Division under Knighton at the first time of asking but subsequent disputes with the club's then new chairman, Tom Cowie, resulted in the departure of both Knighton and his assistant, Frank Clark, towards the end of the 1980-81 season. Most supporters believed that Knighton and Clark had formed a talented managerial partnership and had been treated in a highly unjust manner by Cowie.
Knighton was succeeded at Sunderland by Mick Docherty on a caretaker basis. Knighton went on to manage Leyton Orient.
He also went on to manage Trowbridge Town and Portishead FC
Outside football
Ken left football in the '80s and went on to develop a career in the telecommunication industry. Ken held sales management positions with GEC-Plessey Telecommunications (GPT) and Cable and Wireless.