IFthe spanking dished out by the new league champions, Chelsea, on Tuesday did not prompt yesterday's move by Malcolm Glazer to secure control of Manchester United, it sure as hell should have done.

The biggest and best supported club in the world has hit the skids and someone needed to step in and arrest the decline.

Before Manchester United supporters' groups start banging on about loyalty and the selling of their club's heritage, ponder this: who was it that turned their backs on the team in midweek? Mr and Mrs Disgusted of Old Trafford no less. The United fans might despise Glazer but they also recognise the need for change.

Sir Alex Ferguson appeared a troubled man on Tuesday and well he might. According to the United manager before kick-off, there was nothing to choose between the two sides.

How wrong could he be?

United were humiliated in their own backyard to such an extent that a majority of their supporters left before the traditional, close-of-season lap of honour.

As Gary Neville, the United full-back, so succinctly put it:

"I feel like we're at the bottom of a mountain and Chelsea are at the top."

Last season United, the most successful club in the Premiership, were toppled from their perch by an unbeaten Arsenal. This season, they have been trampled under foot by an all-conquering Chelsea.

Arsenal and Chelsea have raised the Premiership bar in successive seasons and United have failed miserably in their attempts to keep in touch.

Despite the hugely expensive purchase of Wayne Rooney last summer, United have made little progress this season. Some would argue, they have gone backwards.

Glazer is in a position to stop the rot. Here is an established, successful business man who sees in United a sleeping giant in terms of potential in the commercial market. No-one tables a pounds-790.3m takeover bid without checking the viability of the venture. The American is convinced he can turn United into something a bit special.

And what better time to make his move? With morale at an all-time low, Glazer is in the perfect position to win over his most vociferous critics. Making funds available for some serious activity in the transfer market this summer would go a long way towards endearing himself in the heart of the diehards.

As it stands, Ferguson has been told he must sell before he can buy. The United manager could do with a pounds-30m transfer kitty to overhaul a squad which has become complacent in recent years. The regular diet of success has sated appetites rather than increased them and too many of their most influential players are reaching the latter stages of their careers, while more recent signings are simply not fit to pull on the shirt.

Not even Rio Ferdinand and Ruud van Nistelrooy can justify their wages this season.

How ironic then that Ferguson's long and distinguished United career could yet be prolonged by the American.

Last season, the Scot appeared to be walking a fine line when his falling out with the club's majority shareholders JP McManus and John Magnier became public knowledge.

Yesterday, the Irish pair, who had made Ferguson's life such a misery with their demands for a detailed inquiry into each and every transfer deal, pocketed their pounds-70m profit and disappeared into the sunset. Those that suspected an Irish conspiracy, with Martin O'Neill being lined up as a natural successor to Ferguson, have been proved wrong.

One thing is for sure, Glazer will not want to risk destabilising the club further by insisting on a sudden change in manager. On the contrary, it will be in his interests to maintain a degree of stability, with Ferguson, the most respected manager in the business, staying at the helm, at least during the period of transition.

Whether the Scot chooses to stay in charge after this season is a different matter.

Ferguson's new 12-month rolling contract kicks off in June. With doubts surrounding the commitment of Ferdinand and van Nistelrooy, it could be argued the future has never looked more bleak.

On Tuesday night, after the 3-1 drubbing, Ferguson must surely have questioned the wisdom in prolonging the agony for another season.

With Chelsea such a dominant force and with so many resources at their disposal, Ferguson's job can only get tougher. Within minutes of the final whistle, there were calls for his head.

Only Ferguson is not a quitter. After nearly two decades at Old Trafford, during which he has helped secure eight league titles, five FA Cups, a Champions League and Cup-Winners' Cup, there will be no leaving by the back door, his reputation tarnished. If Glazer is prepared to invest, and invest big, Ferguson might just be persuaded to give it one last shot.

TAKEOVER TIMELINE

2003

September 26 Glazer informs the stock market that he owns a 3.17-per cent stake in United

October He makes three separate share purchases, taking his shareholding to 9.66-per cent, second only to Cubic Expression, the investment vehicle of John Magnier and JP McManus

November 28 Spends pounds-30m to raise his stake to 14.31-per cent

2004

February 16 United are placed in an offer period as Glazer says he is "considering" whether to make a bid

February 24 Increases his stake to 16.69-per cent. United are now out of the offer period

April 26 Buys four million shares from United director Maurice Watkins, taking his stake to 18.25-per cent

October 3 Ownership rises to 19.17-per cent with another purchase

October 4 United confirm a "preliminary approach" to the stock exchange, which proves to be from Glazer. The club goes back into an offer period

October 14 Cubic Expression confirm they have broken off negotiations with Glazer

October 15 Glazer raises his stake to 25.3-per cent

October 18 His shareholding increases again, to 27.63-per cent

October 19 Ups stake to 28.11-per cent

October 25 United's board break off negotiations due to the debt bid would require

November 12 Denied access to confidential information on accounts, Glazer carries out his threat to remove three directors at the club's AGM. United release a statement saying they are 'disappointed' and will demand to know what Glazer's intentions are. Within two hours, Glazer is told by bankers JP Morgan and PR organisation Brunswick that they are no longer prepared to act on his behalf

December 20 United are placed back in an offer period after they confirm Glazer has approached them with "potential revisions" to his original offer

2005

February 1 Glazer distances himself from speculation claiming he is about to launch a formal offer

February 6 United confirm they have received "detailed proposals"

February 11 David Gill, United's chief executive, allows "limited" due diligence. Gill describes the pounds-3-per-share price as 'reasonable' but claims the proposals are "aggressive" and "potentially damaging" to the club's long-term future

March 22 United report a 50-per cent fall in half-year profits. Gill admits Glazer's involvement has been "disruptive"

April 14 Glazer formally launches his pounds-800m takeover bid and presents a new set of proposals later the same day

April 28 The American is told he has until May 17 to inform the Takeover Panel whether he intends to buy the club

May 12 Glazer launches formal takeover bid for United after buying the 28.7-per cent stake of McManus and Magnier