BRISBANE Lions chairman Angus Johnson is digging his heels in and happy to go head-to-head with a rival ticket headed by Leigh Matthews at December's annual general meeting.
Current board members Paul Williams and Mick Power informed Johnson at Wednesday's board meeting they had teamed up with Matthews to oppose his tenure.
Williams and Power asked Johnson to resign. He declined.
Despite showing no confidence in their chairman, Williams and Power also declined Johnson's offer for them to resign, and will stay on the current board.
Johnson admitted he was "surprised" they would stay on.
After an amazing day at the Lions, Johnson surfaced mid-afternoon to say there was no doubt the happenings would have a destabilising affect on the club.
The Lions have resembled a circus since Michael Voss's sudden sacking last Tuesday, but with three board members – Cameron Milner, Linda Nash and Peter McGregor – still backing him, Johnson was prepared to dig in and let members decide in December.
Johnson has been opposed because he "botched" the recruitment of Paul Roos to replace Voss, according to Williams and Power.
Johnson said the opposition had nothing to do with Voss' sacking, as Williams had actually led the call for his contract to be cut short three weeks early.
It was then unanimously agreed on.
Johnson said he was happy with his dealings with Roos but wanted to keep the discussions confidential.
He believed he could defeat Matthews in December.
"This isn't a popularity contest," Johnson defiantly said.
"It is about our members making a judgment call on how this board has run the club over the last two and a half years."
He admitted it was bad timing for the embattled Lions who were still in the hunt for a replacement coach.
"I would be a fool to suggest this event this morning isn't going to have a destabilising impact on our club," he said.
"But I have the full support of the directors other than two of them, the management is still in place. We have very capable people here.
"I would just like Paul and Mick to let the dust settle, reflect on what's happened and let's see what happens over the coming weeks.
"I am hopeful that everyone will act in the best interests of our fantastic football club.
"If the members want to kick me out then they have that opportunity at the AGM."
