Eric Martlew, the MP for Carlisle, has written to the DTI demanding an inquiry into who is running the club.

Mr Martlew says people need to know who's behind the Gibraltar-based consortium, Mamcarr Investments, which bought a controlling share in the club last week.

Stephen Brown claimed to have made �6.3m from the sale of a hotel complex in Spain.

However, it transpired that he actually old people's home in Peebles; that he has been working as a barman in an Indian restaurant; and that his experience in sports administration is restricted to an ill-starred spell as commercial manager of Scottish non-league club, Gala Fairydean.

"This man has caused horrendous embarrassment to me and the club," said Knighton, who has confessed to seeing UFOs in his time.

Knighton was on the brink of buying Manchester United from Martin Edwards for �10m in 1989

He has since been banned for five years from being a director of any company as a result of financial irregularities.

Knighton sold the majority of his stake in the club to Mamcarr on 2 January.

Laughing stock

He said: "Brown was never a major player in the buy-out.

"The main buyer, Mamcarr Investments, paid for 60% of the shares; that was signed and sealed on 2 January."

However, the names of those behind the Mamcarr consortium have not been revealed, prompting Martlew is demanding that the DTI investigate the takeover of the club.

He says he's concerned that Carlisle United is becoming a national laughing stock, and has received many letters from people in Carlisle asking him to take the issue up.

Mr Martlew says the situation is unacceptable, and is danger of bringing the game of football into disrepute.

According to the MP, the DTI has promised to look seriously at the sale of Carlisle United.