 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Kutevera kupera kwechisere mumwaka wa1969-1970 uye kutanga kwakashata kwemwaka wa1970-1971, Busby akanyengetedzwa kuti atorezve mabasa evatungamiriri, uye McGuinness akadzokera pachinzvimbo chake semurairidzi wechikwata chekuchengetedza. Muna June 1971, Frank OFarrell akagadzwa semutungamiri, asi akagara mwedzi 18 chete asati atorwa naTommy Docherty muna December 1972. Docherty akaponesa Manchester United kubva pakuderera mumwaka iwoyo, kungovaona vachidzikiswa muna 1974. Panguva iyoyo, vatatu vacho Best, Law naCharlton vakanga vasiya kirabhu yacho. Chikwata chacho chakakwidziridzwa pachikamu chokutanga uye chakasvika mufainari yeFA Cup muna 1976, asi vakakundwa neSouthampton. Vakasvika kumagumo zvakare muna 1977, vachikunda Liverpool 21. Docherty akadzingwa basa nguva pfupi pashure pacho, pashure pokuziviswa kwokudanana kwake nomudzimai womurapi wepanyama wekirabhu. 