The Victorian Lions Supporters Group has condemned the move of the Brisbane Lions to re-design their logo and their jumper without the inclusion of the “Fitzroy Lion” as stipulated in the merger deed of July 1996.
Thirteen years after the AFL forced the ailing Victorian club to merge with the Queensland team, Fitzroy Football Club will early next week will lodge an affidavit seeking a ban on Brisbane’s use of its recently launched “Paddlepop” Lion.
Reluctantly the VLSG feels it has no choice but to support the Fitzroy Football Club in its endeavour.
In the Supreme Court action, Fitzroy representatives will focus on the following paragraph in the Deed of Company Arrangement signed in 1996 by Fitzroy financial administrator Michael Brennan and both clubs:
“7.2 (c) The logo of the Merged Club will be the Fitzroy lion logo in perpetuity.”
Solicitor David Lucas, who sat on the Brisbane Lions board for the first three seasons of the Fitzroy-Brisbane merger (1997-99) as per a separate clause in the deed, will be one of the instructing solicitors assisting Fitzroy in the Supreme Court action.
“The merger agreement is very clear to us – it says the lion must be used in perpetuity, ” Lucas said last night.
“There are other clauses in the agreement, such as jumper, colours, directors that had a timeline.
“But the lion is ‘in perpetuity’. That is what the deed says.
“We all wish Brisbane Lions well, we want them to be a powerhouse. We just want them to honour the merger agreement.”
Fitzroy president Craig Little confirmed his club would be taking the logo matter to the Supreme Court.
“Our position is a united one on behalf of our members and all those who have asked us to take a stand for the proud tradition of not only Fitzroy but also Brisbane Lions, a tradition we believe the merger agreement obliges the Brisbane Lions to continue to honour,” Little said.
The VLSG concurs with the sentiment of both Craig Little and David Lucas in seeking to uphold the terms of the merger agreement.
Victorian Lions Supporters Group 