I don’t have any links, only my memory, but I think this comes from two different places that (in my eyes) has been misremembered or changed over time to suit points of view.
The Ankerson is still involved comes from the interview with Dragan in the summer, where it was said that he was still involved with negotiations of the deals involving players.
The advisor(s) telling him not to appoint Tonda came from from a later rumour, not an interview, and the way I understood it at the time was that this was football people outside of the club that had Dragans ear.
It’s just my take on the situation and your question. I don’t claim to have the blueprint or anything, just trying to help.