Manchester United have appointed a former Greater Manchester Police officer as a full-time counter-terrorism chief based at Old Trafford.

The appointment, which has been confirmed by the football club after details first emerged at a fans’ forum, follows a series of high-profile scares at the stadium .

It is believed the Reds are the UK’s first football club to hire a full-time expert to respond to the threat of terrorism.

The former GMP inspector, who is now in position, will work alongside the club’s current senior security team, with an emphasis on counter-terrorism and general security improvements.

The move follows a number of embarrassing lapses at the club - but also wider increased concerns over global security.

An investigation was ordered by the club in November after two fans on an official tour managed to sleep at the ground overnight.

The two supporters, thought to be overseas students, had been taking part in an official tour of the Reds’ stadium when they managed to break free from the group and hide out of sight.

A ‘fake bomb’ blunder also led to the cancellation of the home tie with Bournemouth last season and the evacuation of around 50,000 fans from Old Trafford ahead of kick-off.

A security firm brought in to test security and the club’s emergency response protocols planted a number of dummy bombs in and around the ground for a training exercise, but one was left behind.

The dummy device, described as lifelike but not viable, was found in a toilet ahead of the game, leading to a full cancellation.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said at the time that the incident was treated as a ‘potential terror threat’ as the club ‘could not have assumed it was a training exercise error’.

A club source told the M.E.N. that security matters in and around Old Trafford were kept ‘under constant review’.

They said: “We keep this under constant review and the appointment is evidence of this.”

(Image: Vince Cole)

It is also understood however that the club moved to make the appointment in response to global fears over terror attacks and the implication of sports stadia in them arising from the suicide bombings outside the Stade de France in November 2015.

The club said the counter-terrorism manager had been in place at the club for a number of months.

He hasn’t been named but the club said the post ties in with a general increase in security arrangements around the ground.

The club said the role would see him work alongside a number of other senior security personnel based at the club and would involve security not just at Old Trafford but training grounds as well.