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.
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Why not land on the pitch, then fly em back to barton for parking, and pick em up after the game?
Yawn...
It'll never take off with the weight of them yanks.
The rotor will snap :O(
SCUMBAGS!
Shock... Horror... Billionaire owners use helicopters to fly from one business to the other...
Good grief...
Yet more salt in wounds from the Yankee parasites.
Should be a couple of spare seats to take some cockney reds back
Will there be a helicopter landing pad in Moston? I think not!
"hush hush plan"? Not now it is plastered all over the Manchester Evening News.
Why is it you quoted a United 'source' who made disparaging comments but wasn't man or woman enough to put their name to the comments, Manchester Evening News? Another non-story, eh?
But one United source told the M.E.N. that some staff were furious at being made to make way for the Americans.
“They've been told they will have somewhere to park but a lot of them aren't happy about it.
Well if they are not happy about their boss, they know where the exit door is. I'm sure the vacant posts can be filled by people who dont have a job.
Ha Ha I love them.
Maybe they can give some fans a lift back to London ?
And they call us bitter.
Talk about small minded.
Don't worry.....Yoonited...er, I mean, the Glazer can afford it! :-)
It will all be on expenses ultimately paid for by the fans.
This is symbolic of the Glazers treatment of fans since the day they arrived.. Priceless.
So you park there all year and on derby day you shoed off? That's a breach of contract if your paying a season ticket for parking. Nick Freeman would have something to say on that.
wicked lol
They are the owners-they can do what they want.
Should be in for a nice warm welcome now...hush-hush operation !!!! Ha...
Should be in for a nice warm welcome now...hush-hush operation !!!! Ha...
Don't forget Rio !
Nice to see Utd's class owners treating the staff with the respect they deserve.
Rio more bothered about the NFL game than the derby?
:)
Very much a non-story. So the multi-millionaire owners of two sporting clubs want to travel between them to see them play and are using a helicopter. Big deal.
As to those who are moaning about the Glazers. We've had good success on and off the pitch, are more than holding our own and the Glazers continue to spend when required. We've not chopped and changed managers (Chelsea), we've not bought expensive players on huge salaries with no sale on value (Torres, Tevez, Toure etc...), we're conforming to the fair-play rules, we're introducing new/young players and we don't pay extortionate wages (compared to other big clubs).
Whilst I don't agree with foreign ownership at the least the Glazers haven't come out with stupid comments in the same manner as Abramovich, the Chicken brothers and aren't at logger heads with each other in the same manner as Arsenal owners. I don't see them wanting to go out on their own in terms of a TV deal (Liverpool).
All in all, they've not done a bad job - we could have gotten worse. At some point they'll sell-up, all the owners will - they'll all move on, but in the meantime, it's not been a bad ride.
Well I for one will be clapping their arrival.
They have been iconic and brilliant owners & I love Malcolm!!
They'll want a quick get away with all those sore losers at the end.......