The way I read it, tanner gave the commish warning, saying, "Hey I wont be back next season, go ahead and plan to fill my opening". I dont believe he ever gave the OK to be replaced before rollover.
If he didn't give explicit permission, he should not have been replaced.
As commish, if someone says, "I dont have time for this team, please replace me ASAP", I will do just that. But if they say, "I'm not going to return next season", I'll ask if they want to be replaced right now, or after the season. He paid for the team, he gets to decide his own fate.
I cant believe WIS would replace an owner before rollover without his approval. Thats just wrong.