A car park at Old Trafford is being cordoned off and transformed into a helipad ahead of this weekend’s derby match so that United’s owners can arrive in a fleet of four choppers.

The land, next to the stadium, is usually used for staff parking but the Glazer family has ordered that it is turned into a temporary landing area to allow them to see the match and then fly to London to see their American football team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action. The derby will end at about 3.25pm with the London game having a 6pm kick off.

Four helicopters are expected to be used - with one set to ferry Rio Ferdinand, a big NFL fan, to the Buccaneers' Wembley showdown with the Chicago Bears.

Maximum security is expected to surround the hush-hush operation and the club declined to comment.

But one United source told the M.E.N. that some staff were furious at being made to make way for the Americans.

They said: “Those that usually park there have been shifted to other car parks.

“They've been told they will have somewhere to park but a lot of them aren't happy about it.

“It's been very quiet all week. Staff were just told some kind of event was taking place on the car park and then we found out it was for the Glazers.

“They usually fly into Barton and come here in private cars.

“But with our match kicking off at 1.30pm and the Tampa Bay game starting at 6pm. time is of the essence.

“I think they might even have to come out before the end of the match – but I'm not sure what Rio will do.”

Ferdinand tweeted that he would be at the London game – a decision that has already prompted criticism from some Reds fans.

They feel the centre-half and former United captain should be concentrating solely on the Reds' 1.30pm top of the table clash with Roberto Mancini's Blues.

The Glazers remain controversial figures for United fans, after plunging the club into debt when they took over in 2005. Sections of the Reds support continue to protest at their ownership.

Malcolm Glazer, the 83-year-old owner of Manchester United, has five sons and a daughter – Avram, Kevin, Bryan, Joel, Edward and Darcie.
Joel and Avram are joint chairmen of the club.