Ashley is the one ultimately responsible for the state of the club, he's the one that makes the decisions and the buck stops with him.
Does he deserve credit for the 5th place finish? Nope, simply because it was never intentional. Ashliar's remit then is the same now, to stay in the Premier League, they just had better players then and a lot of luck. They still went out of both cups in the 4th round !
Ashley is the one that should be getting it but people aren't doing it, it's been said for years but nothing is ever organised.
Doesnt mean that Bruce is blameless as Bruce is the one that organises training, formations *coughs team selection ahem. Would he have done better with better players, no I don't believe he would've. Don't forget that he was in charge of Aston Villa who was supposed to walk the championship but never did, not even close.
If he hasn't got the right players then it's HIS responsibility to bang on Ashley's door and demand better players. If not then resign! He was 11th choice because no fucker else wanted it, he was told by Shearer not to take the job in the first place. He's failed at every other club he's been to except Hull.
It's a poor squad but they aren't fit and they don't even look like what they are doing! Who's responsibility is that? BRUCE! So why the fuck is Bruce giving them free licence to do what the fuck they want cos they aren't training properly.
Its reported that Ashley was disappointed in 5th place because he'd been sold the dream of Champions League by Llambias who convinced him to shell out for Cisse in the January transfer window
That disappointment of having to fight on two fronts without massive CL windfalls was the distinct point in history when Ashley thought fuck it - he decided then and there that chasing a Europa cup (any cup) was just a headache that would get in the way of securing the PL riches