Currently at the bottom of the ladder, the Lions are heading to the the top of the state in order to source $10 million state government funding for a new training administrative base. The meeting was supposed to happen last month, but has been pushed back.

Two options are being considered for the facility, either at the QE2 complex - which they would share with netball's Queensland Firebirds - or a site near the Brisbane airport. The AFL has already pledged $5m towards the project.

The Lions are making a submission to the AFL for a new three-year funding deal - not the normal one-year decision - to give the club some stability for forward planning. The club has made a separate bid to the league for what is seemingly an unlikely priority pick. It's understood the Lions will not, however, seek the Premier's public support in their attempt to secure emergency draft assistance.

The Lions' quest to move their operations away from the Gabba has taken longer than the club would have hoped. The planned $60m base at Springfield, west of Brisbane, was scrapped after the Abbott government would not match the $15m in federal funding. The project had already been mired in controversy due to a perceived conflict of interest between Lions chairman Bob Sharpless because of his presence on the board of Springfield Land Corp, which has a heads of agreement to develop the site.

The Lions began the year more than $12m in debt, and things are little better on the field. With their lamentable season set to end on Saturday at home to the Western Bulldogs, the Lions are also bracing for the imminent loss of second-year midfielder James Aish and free agent ruckman Matthew Leuenberger. The Bulldogs game will also serve as a swansong for former captain Jed Adcock, who has been told he will not be kept at the club next year.