Have been in a similar position. I simply pushed back. Did what I reasonably could and well. It wasn't good enough for the managers so they demoted me and hired

Have been in a similar position. I simply pushed back. Did what I reasonably could and well. It wasn't good enough for the managers so they demoted me and hired 3 "yes-men" who as a group accomplished less than I did whilst pushing back. It didn't end well. But no managers were fired. While there are less-competent yes-men out there, the managers will continue to hire those who don't tell them to ...