There is a big difference as to what the company hope to achieve in recruitment for this financial year and what will actually happen. As far as management are concerned, DECs make perfect sense as you only have one command course to worry about rather than a command course, plus an initial type rating for the new recruit to replace the promoted F/O.
I would not be at all surprised if the company do quietly hope to attract a number of DECs. The fact that they will be unable to will raise its own challenges in the year ahead.