Not sure how the 1970s are relevant to Mike Ashley considering 4 decades have passed since and we had a spell in between where the potential and status of the club was expanded exponentially at the same time that football did in this country and globally. We rode the PL boom and the club was transformed from what it was previously. Ashley is judged on the fact that as a sporting, financial and community institution the club have gone backwards from the point of him taking over. Judging the club against what it was in the 70s is a nonsense because of what happened inbetween, I'm really not sure how that isn't patently obvious tbh. Ashley is the worst person ever to be associated with the club and is making the least out of the situation he inherited (unless you're happy with Sports Direct's success).