The Canberra rugby presidents have called an extraordinary general meeting of the ACT Brumbies board on April 13 in a bid to get answers from the club's directors in a move that could trigger major upheaval.
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The club presidents are major stakeholders at the Brumbies and used their voting power in the boardroom to schedule a meeting and a potential vote of no confidence in the directors.
A motion has been put forward for a special resolution to dissolve the board and a normal resolution to appoint a new board at what looms as an explosive meeting at Brumbies headquarters.
The club presidents have asked for the EGM after growing frustrated by the lack of information behind the board's decision to stand down chief executive Michael Jones and the ongoing Australian Federal Police investigation.
But the presidents could opt to rescind the EGM request if a court injunction is lifted to open the channels of communication, and they are driven by gathering the facts rather than axing directors.
Some club officials were left divided by the wording of the notification posted on a meeting room window at the Brumbies' base on Wednesday.
A large chunk of the angst between the clubs - who hold the balance of power in the Brumbies boardroom - relates to a trust fund that was supposed to be set up for community rugby after selling the Brumbies' Griffith headquarters.
The AFP are investigating transactions at the Brumbies between 2009 and 2013 relating to the $11.375 sale of the land at Griffith and subsequent move to the University of Canberra.
The trust fund for clubs has not been set up and information has not been filtering through to club presidents.
The Canberra clubs have 14 of 23 votes for the Brumbies board and, if they stick together, they hold massive power.
Jones and the Brumbies board are still waiting on the outcome of a legal battle, which is being considered by Justice Richard Refshauge.
News of the extraordinary general meeting was the latest twist in the second week of high drama at the Super Rugby club, which started with the board standing down Jones before the matter was taken to court.
Jones has gained an injunction to return to his job while Justice Refshauge decides on the matter. The Canberra clubs wanted it to play out in the boardroom and not in court, admitting the situation is "uncomfortable" for all involved.
But they are desperate for answers and could still withdraw the application for the EGM if the injunction and suppression orders are lifted and they are allowed to gain access to information.
They could still vote to keep the board if they decide they have gained all the information they need and are satisfied with the direction of the club.
One club president sat in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday as the Brumbies board's legal team argued Jones shouldn't be allowed to use the whistleblower protection legislation as a defence for being stood down.
The impasse prompted club rugby officials to use their voting power to call the meeting. Jones gathered the presidents of Canberra's seven local teams last week to explain his side of the story.
Fairfax Media revealed on the weekend that some of the clubs have seen the KPMG report and want more detail from the board to weigh up a range of factors.
Others have opted not to review the report until after hearing the board's version of events to remain impartial.
Jones feels he has become the victim of a witch hunt of those who have been mentioned in the KPMG report and are the subject of an ongoing police investigation.
The KPMG report has been suppressed in court and is not available for public viewing.
It is understood the University of Canberra and vice chancellor Stephen Parker has also seen the report, while the ACT government was informed the report was the subject of an investigation by the police.
The Brumbies board and Jones are unable to comment on the situation due to a court order, while the club presidents decided not to comment after a meeting on Wednesday.
Jones was asked to hand over his keys and had his business credit card cancelled. But less than 24 hours he gained an injunction against the decision, citing whistleblower protection and was back in his office on the Wednesday.
