Further problems with Best led to a two-week suspension for the player and he continued to miss training sessions during the 1972–73 season. Forwards Wyn Davies and Ted MacDougall were signed in September 1972, bringing O'Farrell's spending in the previous six months to £500,000. On 6 December, it was announced that Best would be transfer listed. On 16 December, United lost 5–0 to Crystal Palace, with Don Rogers scoring twice, and three days after the match, with the club third-from-bottom in the league, O'Farrell was sacked after 18 months in the role. He was replaced at Old Trafford by Tommy Docherty. O'Farrell as the only Irish manager in Manchester United's history. His sacking resulted in O'Farrell suing the club over unpaid wages and he was forced to sign on at the local labour exchange while the dispute was settled. The club ultimately settled out-of-court and O'Farrell received "about £17,000".