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 Portishead FC
Read more about Ken Knighton: Outside Football
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