Leigh Matthews has stepped aside from the roles of Football Director and Deputy Chairman at the Brisbane Lions but will remain a Director at the Club.  

A replacement for the Football Director role will be discussed when the Club’s Board holds its first monthly meeting of 2017 in coming weeks.  

Matthews told the Board his work across the football media industry meant he could not commit to a major role on an ongoing basis, but was keen to remain involved as a Director.  

Matthews said: “The Board was advised late last year that I would not be the official Football Director in 2017 as I believed doing that function well was in conflict with both the time commitment and effectiveness of my various media roles.  

“However, I am happy to remain on the Board and continue to help out where I can.”  

Director Andrew Wellington will take on the role of Deputy Chairman while also continuing as Finance Director, as advised at the Annual General Meeting in December last year.  

Wellington, a chartered accountant and partner of PwC, has been on the Board since 2013 and a member of the Club since 1995.  

Brisbane Lions Chairman Bob Sharpless said the Board respected Matthews’ decision, adding that the three-time Lions premiership coach would still have influence over the Club’s football development as a Director.  

“Leigh remains on the Board of the Brisbane Lions and he will continue to play a major role as we work our way back to relevance in AFL football,” said Sharpless.  

“Leigh is an important figure in the game and he has a wide range of media commitments that take time and focus – as a Board we understand and respect his decision going into 2017.  

“We have our first Board meeting of the year in coming weeks where Directors will discuss our options for Football Director.  

“After Leigh informed us of his intentions at the last Board meeting of 2016, we have already agreed that Andrew Wellington will step up into the Deputy Chairman role, which is great for the Club.  

“Andrew brings excellent financial nous from his work career, a deep knowledge of the game having played and served as an administrator at community level for the better part of four decades, and been a member of our Club since 1995.  

“I congratulate Andrew on his appointment, which comes at an exciting time for the Club with our Women’s team about to embark on historic first season in the AFLW competition.”