The fallout from the Brisbane Lions' latest annus horribilis will not only end the senior coaching career of Justin Leppitsch but is also expected to see the resignation of the club's three-time premiership coach and powerbroker Leigh Matthews.
Leppitsch, who received a one-year contract extension in March, cannot survive the Lions' disastrous season that has, to date, seen just three wins, captain Tom Rockliff at odds with club leaders and AFL intervention as Brisbane's debt continues to spiral out of control.
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AFL bosses Mark Evans and Travis Auld are leading the AFL review into the club's football and off-field operation, and are expected to recommend a number of key personnel changes, including the appointment of a senior football operations manager and several new coaching positions.
Although the AFL has guaranteed it will assist the rebuilding of the hapless Lions, it is expected to stop short of funding the Leppitsch payout given that it cautioned the club against guaranteeing the coach's wage — about $450,000 — for next season.
![Leppitsch is set to lose his job.](/web/20160818175255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/u/0/s/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqu1oj.png/1471377696315.jpg)
Matthews, who led a takeover of the club at the end of 2013, ousting chairman Angus Johnson and installing director Bob Sharpless as the new head of the board, led the appointment of Leppitsch. Disenchanted at the perceived lack of assistance from the AFL, Matthews has mused several times this season about the struggle he has faced juggling his media roles with his position at the Lions.
The Hall of Fame Legend, who coached Leppitsch to three flags and is close to him, is understood to be favouring staying in the media and stepping away from his official role at Brisbane.
Leppitsch is also understood to be coming to the realisation that he will not see out his contract. Not only is the AFL reviewing the Lions and working closely with chief executive Greg Swann and the board, but chairman Sharpless 11 days ago revealed the board would review the senior coaching position at the end of the season.
Brisbane and its $13 million debt, falling membership and attendances, remains the AFL's No.1 priority not 15 months since league chief Gillon McLachlan installed Swann as CEO after removing former club boss Malcolm Holmes in June 2014.
![Matthews has become disenchanted with level of support from the AFL.](/web/20160818175255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/u/1/a/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqu1oj.png/1471377696315.jpg)
Matthews led the Brisbane board's presentation to the AFL commission when it met the club late last month and spoke of the historic difficulties and issues. Not only did Matthews put forward a case for a retention allowance, he also called for significant additional AFL funding to help eliminate debt, build a new facility and boost playing and football stocks; a call echoed by other club leaders at the meeting.
Although the AFL has indicated it will inject additional funds of at least $1.2 million into the football department, league bosses have become disenchanted with Brisbane's perceived victim mentality while conceding its facilities are the worst in the AFL and that the club was handed a significantly unfavourable draw in 2016.
A further sore point between the AFL and the club — and predominantly Matthews — has been Brisbane's ongoing search for a new training and administration facility with the league disappointed Brisbane rejected previous options that came with promise of generous public funding. They were rejected for legitimate geographical concerns. Now the Lions appear close to securing land near Brisbane Airport.
Leppitsch criticised the AFL's handling of the club after the 138-point thrashing from Adelaide in round 20.
"We've been given nothing as a footy club," said the coach. "GWS bought Heath Shaw and [Shane] Mumford with the extra footy concessions they got with cash. You've got to understand there is a system behind what you see out there on game days ... [Some] get more concessions and some don't."
One sensitive issue remains: the future of Craig Lambert, who was brought back to the club from GWS to assist his close friend Leppitsch. Lambert is contracted for a further two seasons.
It is not known to what extent the AFL will influence the selection of the Lions' next coach.
The AFL strongly advised Brisbane to mitigate any contract extension for Leppitsch with a performance clause, advice strongly resisted by Leppitsch's manager Craig Kelly and the Lions. The AFL offered similar strong advice to GWS when it extended Leon Cameron's contract and the Giants and Kelly, who also manages Cameron, refused.
■After 200 AFL matches, Brisbane Lions veteran Daniel Merrett is to retire at the end of the season. The 31-year-old will play his final match against St Kilda in Melbourne on Sunday week, drawing to a close his 14-year career with the Lions.
With AAP