AJ is probably as much to blame as anyone else, but never having met the chap I can't really comment on his role.
However, No matter how little money was available, there is no excuse for the sort of shenanigans that have been occuring. Emerald has always been penny shy and pound foolish. I couldn't believe the wasteage that went on every day, just because people were chasing their tails.
Add to that the unadulterated lies that were told to everyone. (Oh yes, we have got a dispensation on the use of hire cars before duty........) Then worrying about how much of a budget MOB had seems daft, since even if it'd been 10X whatever it was, then it would have been wasted anyway.
Tight purse strings or not, there was no need for the abuse and utter disregard for people that was shown on a daily basis, that is utterly unforgiveable. There is no justifying it no matter what pressure you are under.