Brisbane Lions are hiding behind a crumbling legal facade The Lions are coping fan backlash after their treatment of Leigh Matthews. BRISBANE'S board is hiding behind a crumbling legal facade after their backhander to Leigh Matthews sparked outrage among fans and drew a flood of challengers from legal experts. QUT legal expert and 18 year Lions' member Christopher Raleigh believes the board's move to block Matthews' bid for election would not stand-up legally. Raleigh who is both a lawyer and trademark attorney says the legal challenge was a smokescreen to cover a sinister agenda by chairman Angus Johnson because the board has the constitutional right to upgrade the privileges of life members - which would pave the way for Matthews' bid to go ahead. Yesterday he lodged a formal request with CEO Malcolm Holmes and Johnson to call an EGM - stating it was now his constitutional right. Johnson refused to comment. Raleigh, who this year travelled to Perth, Launceston, Melbourne and Sydney to watch the side as well as attending every home game, said he was heartbroken at the damage being done to the club he "lives and breathes for" and urged Johnson to stand down saying his actions "reeked of self interest." "I am outraged by the actions of the board, they are taking members for granted and treating us like fools," he said. Not only are the Lions board refusing to let the members voices be heard they are being unbelievably disrespectful to the absolute living legend Leigh Matthews. Former chairman Graeme Downie said the move contravened the spirit of the 2005 resolution and is outraged that Brisbane's board resorted to a legal argument over terminology. "I cannot believe they would devalue life membership for their political advantage," he said. Director Paul Williams; also a lawyer, made two proposals to Johnson yesterday which are now in the hands of the club's lawyers: upgrade the rights of life members or immediately call the EGM with a revised agenda that removes Matthews and Ross Thornton from the ticket challenging Johnson, Cameron Miliner and Linda Nash. Matthews would be promoted to the board as a special skills appointment if they won the challenge. Online forum and social media have lit-up since the board made its move and Williams said he had been flooded with offers of help from disgruntled footy fans from among the legal community. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou refused to be drawn into the stoush yesterday declaring he was still working with both parties to reach a compromise. "The AFL's preferred outcome is a united board for the Brisbane Lions and for the two groups to be able to resolve their differences and be able to work together," he said.