On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank you for your patience, understanding and support over the past two months, as a number of issues were worked through.
As you’re aware, the Board resolved to accept a mediated agreement in consultation with the AFL that last week ended a lengthy dispute, with Directors Angus Johnson, Paul Williams and Linda Nash announcing they would be stepping down.
Again I’d like to thank Angus, Paul and Linda, for their combined 32 years of voluntary service to the club.
The agreement saw Leigh Matthews appointed as an expertise Director, joining Peter McGregor, Cameron Milner, Mick Power and myself on the Board.
While we all come from different fields and backgrounds and will undoubtedly hold differing views at times, we are united through one common trait – getting our club back on track.
Importantly, last week’s agreement also secured a significant funding package from the AFL.
This funding will go towards improving and strengthening our football department and I’d like to again thank the AFL for their support with this.
Clearly, without the support of the AFL, we – like a number of other clubs – would be in significant financial trouble.
The AFL is a major contributor to our football club and they made it very clear that additional financial support would be difficult if the Board matter went to an EGM. There were also no guarantees that an EGM would have resulted in a stable Board and potentially could have created more issues.
Like you, I want to see our club successful – on and off the field.
I’ve been a member of the Lions for 15 years, sitting in the stands, witnessing both the good and the bad.
Members are the lifeblood of our football club and I want our members to know that there is a genuine desire and willingness to listen to any concerns you may have to see if we can accommodate them. We have already made a commitment to take two concerns to our members at December’s AGM:
1. The club’s guernsey
2. Change to the rights of Life Members in our club’s Constitution
There’s previously been a lot of emotion around the guernsey which is perfectly understandable.
Recently, the club surveyed its membership base, with over 3,000 responses finding a 71.4 percent approval rating for change.
I’m sure you’re as pleased as I am that these off-field issues have been resolved before the team hits the track for pre-season training.
That starts next week and to Justin Leppitsch, Dean Warren, Jonathan Brown, Jed Adcock and all of the guys, good luck with the preparation, the gruelling Arizona trip and the upcoming Draft.
There’s plenty to like and I keep hearing the stories of how guys are training away from the Club over the off-season.
Members will also shortly receive information of the club’s 2014 membership offerings and I would like to encourage you to please get behind these guys and believe in what they’re doing.
For now, my focus will be to get across all of the planning as well as the issues, and I’ll be sure to be in regular contact with members for the remainder of this year and throughout 2014.
Go Lions.
Bob Sharpless
Lion Chairman
