Mick Power powers up in Lions stoush Mick Power Photo: Glenn Hunt Mick Power has been the sleeping giant of the bid to oust the current board of the Brisbane Lions. His clout has never been in question, but he remained as obscure as a man personally worth about half a billion dollars possibly could. Now it's on for young and old. The development magnate held court on Tuesday, inviting media to the West End offices of his BMD construction group to launch in earnest the board tilt code-named 'Fresh Start', which will take their case against chairman Angus Johnson to a November 13 general meeting. It was an impressive show of force; a parade in which the bristling arsenal was finally unveiled for all to behold. Johnson hasn't been intimidated up to this point but his foes and their well-connected allies are now out in the open. Lions great Alastair Lynch towered over proceedings from the back of the room, flanked by former chairmen, life members, influential financial supporters and a variety of other big hitters either involved with, or estranged from, the club. Leigh Matthews, the football director-in-waiting and undoubted jewel in the Fresh Start crown, sold the bid with passion and flair, while board candidates Allan Smith, Ross Thornton and current director Paul Williams all outlined their reasons for signing up to the push. But it was Power that many had come to hear. He remains a business giant in the state and his company, founded with his brother Bevan in 1979 near the bayside suburb where he still resides, has become the largest private construction and development group in the nation. A veteran of various private and government boards for two decades, Power said he remained deeply concerned about the financial situation of the Lions, a club bleeding cash and desperate for AFL help to remain viable. The current board, Power said, wasn't up to the job and he believed he was left with no choice but to team with Williams and Matthews to spark an insurgency. I've been involved with government-owned corporations for near on 20 years now, so I feel I've got a fair handle on how boards should operate and whether they're effective. At this point in time, we haven't got an effective board at the Brisbane Lions," Power said. The only way to do that, we felt, was to mount this challenge and give the members their chance if we couldn't come to some resolution with Angus and his team. There was no mincing of words. He claimed he was 'ridiculed' at the monthly meetings for his intense focus on trying to balance the books. As such, he believes the club cannot survive in the short-term without AFL handouts. Financially, we're in a fairly precarious position. All of the current directors are very cognisant of that. It's dependent on the support of the AFL, there's no doubt about that," Power said. There's a lot of clubs in the same boat. That's just the way it is. The Lions can and will come back. We just need the right people on the board driving it. A big part of that will be Leigh being there and this is the only ticket that can deliver him. Power said his ticket has largely agreed to a deal with the AFL that would have delivered a substantial funding package to the Gabba before it fell at the final hurdle. What we've got at the moment is the AFL prepared to support a board that's stable. We had a situation where we had a compensation situation that was virtually agreed to, but was rejected, that had a substantial financial package that would enhance what we have currently," Power said. I don't understand where that was coming from and that was very disappointing. There's no doubt this club will survive - with help from the AFL. Power remains one of the most controversial figures in the whole board stoush but the Fresh Start ticket insists they come as a complete set, or not at all. With all of his millions, Power would seem a dream boardroom candidate for any team. But another ticket, lead by ex-Fitzroy board member Henry Pinskier, wants him gone - as well as Williams. Lethal stands by his mates - would expect no less but we won't cop Paul Williams and Mick Power. Never. They must and will go," the Restore Lions' Pride group tweeted. That group has been accused of running interference for Johnson, while the Lions are investigating the alleged leak of a confidential email list of members. Fresh Start have claimed Pinskier's email featured leaked EGM information only Lions directors, the club's lawyers and the voting slip printers would know. Williams feared there there would be more potential distractions ahead of the EGM. Henry Pinskier has become involved. It becomes very public and very messy. And the next three weeks there is probably going to be similar offerings," Williams said.