 Nyorai kuenderera kweiyi ndima - Kutevera kupera kwechisere mumwaka wa1969-70 uye kutanga kwakashata kwemwaka wa1970-71, Busby akanyengetedzwa kuti atorezve mabasa evatungamiriri, uye McGuinness akadzokera pachinzvimbo chake semurairidzi wechikwata chekuchengetedza. Muna June 1971, Frank OFarrell akagadzwa semutungamiri, asi akagara mwedzi isingasviki 18 asati atorwa naTommy Docherty muna December 1972. Docherty akaponesa Manchester United kubva pakuderera mumwaka iwoyo, chete kuvaona vachidzikiswa muna 1974; panguva iyoyo vatatu veBest, Law, naCharlton vakanga vasiya kirabhu. Chikwata ichi chakakunda kukwidziridzwa pakuedza kwekutanga uye chakasvika kumagumo eFA Cup muna 1976, asi chakakundwa neSouthampton. Vakasvika kumagumo zvakare muna 1977, ichikunda Liverpool 21. Docherty akadzingwa basa nguva pfupi pashure pacho, pashure pokuziviswa kwokudanana kwake nomudzimai womurapi wepanyama wekirabhu. 