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"There is no problem": Lions CEO says Leppitsch going nowhere

6th June, 2016
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Brisbane CEO Greg Swann says there’s no doubt under-fire coach Justin Leppitsch will remain at the helm of the Lions for the 2017 AFL season.

The Lions have struggled to a 1-10 start to the season and sit above only Essendon on the ladder, leading to suggestions the club could be looking in a different direction.

But Swann has defended the club’s mentor, guaranteeing the under-contract Leppitsch will be the coach next season.

“From our club’s point of view there is no problem,” Swann told SEN Breakfast.

“He’s contracted. I got asked on the weekend about is there any pressure and I said, ‘Not from the club, there isn’t’.

“We’re going down the path of trying to play these kids and we’re not changing course.”

Swann’s backing comes amid claims that Leppitsch has lost the support of the club’s playing group.

“I saw the article which said he had lost the support of the players but I think there have been 19 re-signed,” Swann said.

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“So if they are all upset and don’t like the coach, I don’t think that would happen. So we will see who is proven right in the end.”

Swann denied speculation the club would ask for a priority draft pick at the end of the season if they failed to win more than five games.

The Lions made a similar request last season but were knocked back by the AFL, and Swann said there were no such plans in place this season.

“Seriously, we haven’t even spoken to them,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of teams that we play that are closer to us on the ladder than we did in the first half of the year.”

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