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Collette Roche is set to become one of the most powerful women in football with Manchester United expected to confirm her appointment as their new chief operating officer (COO).

Not only would Collette, 43, be the first female COO in United's history, she would also join an elite band of seven women in executive positions in the Football League and Premier League.

West Ham's Karren Brady, Marina Granovskaia (Chelsea), Susan Whelan (Leicester City), Helen Taylor (CEO at Forest Green Rovers), Katrien Meire (Sheffield Wednesday) and Carolyn Radford (Mansfield Town) are the six women currently holding executive positions in English football's top four leagues.

Collette, who is currently the executive director for Manchester Airports Group, which owns Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted airports, will be in charge of facilities, Old Trafford, ticketing and running the day-to-day business of the club.

Last year she was named by the Manchester Evening News as one of the region's top 100 inspiring women. Her CV is hugely impressive, and Collette is also a non executive director of pub chain JW Lees and a board member on the Northern Powerhouse. The latter is a project to boost economic growth in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle.

The Lancaster University graduate has developed her HR career working in a variety of sectors and international blue chip companies including Ford Motor Company, Siemens and United Utilities.

After a brief period as HR Director at Connaught, Collette joined Manchester Airport as HR Director, later taking on role as deputy MD and then deputy CEO.

Her appointment at Old Trafford will come at an exciting time for the club, who have applied to the FA to have their first ever professional women's team in place for the start of the 2018/19 season.

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