Mariner has to get approval from Anselmi and the board regarding the budget for player acquisitions. Mariner must have been given the approval to pay a chunk of JDG's remaining salary for the final few months of his contract in order to acquire another DP in his place, based on the circumstances at the time.
In any case, you stated that my assertion regarding the moratorium on hiring front office personnel was unjustified, and I responded in kind.