ANGUS Johnson has broken his silence on the Brisbane Lions boardroom battle, saying he is not clinging to power and is happy to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
The Lions chairman has been in the gun of members, supporters and commentators since fellow directors Mick Power and Paul Williams assembled a rival ticket with Leigh Matthews in August to overthrow him.
Amid the drama, Johnson has kept a low profile, but has now given his first interview to balance the record.
He defended his position, and spoke with fire about reaching the best resolution for the Lions.
"A lot of people in our industry say they have the best interests of the club at heart," Johnson said.
"I've spent 15 years on this board. I've always acted in the best interests of the club. I'm passionate about our football club. I would have thought that's self-evident.
"I want this matter resolved as soon as possible. It is not in my interests to see this drag on."
The boardroom split has now lasted almost two months.
More than 800 full-voting members submitted signed letters calling for an EGM to bring the situation to a head, before the League stepped in and tried to resolve the matter through mediation with the AFL Commission.
The deadline to set a date for the EGM came and went on October 4 as the rival factions tried to thrash out a resolution.
However another curveball came on Tuesday when the Lions received legal advice saying Matthews, a life member, could not be appointed as a director.
The club's constitution states that only full members, which does not include life members, can be voted in.
The latest hiccup appeared to stall mediation and the possible announcement of an EGM.
Matthews let his displeasure be known via Twitter.
Johnson said he could understand Matthews' frustration at the constitution loophole and supported a move to close it.
Not only did the Lions seek advice from the club's solicitors, "a global and highly reputable firm", the chairman sought independent legal advice beyond that.
Johnson said he wanted the constitution amended, and could do so by proposing a change to members, who then needed to approve it with a 75 per cent vote.
"I spoke passionately about this to the boardroom (on Tuesday). It's recorded in our minutes," he said.
"We should amend this as soon as we possibly can, because clearly life members need to have the right to vote, and of course they should be eligible to be elected as directors."
Johnson said he had the support of fellow directors Cameron Milner, Linda Nash and Peter McGregor.
He said they were doing everything possible to reach an acceptable outcome to the AFL, Lions members and to the rival ticket.
However, the boardroom split appears a little way off being resolved.
Johnson said his preference was to mediate an outcome – as encouraged by the AFL - and the board would reconvene "urgently" to assess its next step.
"I am not avoiding a vote. I'm not avoiding things to delay one," he said.
"I will certainly not avoid an EGM. I believe the members deserve to be heard and the members deserve a vote.
"We will have the EGM if mediation by the AFL doesn't proceed. This has dragged on longer than anyone wanted to.
He admitted the media barrage against him over the past two months had been hurtful.
"For people to say I'm holding on … well, people who know me and my other directors know that we have always put the club's best interests first."
Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting https://twitter.com/AFL_mikewhiting
