Sacked Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch says he has no hard feelings towards the Lions after his dismissal following three AFL seasons at the helm.
Leppitsch was released on Monday from the final year of his contract after Brisbane slumped to a 17th-placed finish with just three wins this year.
He told The Nine Network's The Footy Show on Thursday night he was initially disappointed and angry with the board's decision, but quickly accepted the club needed to go in a different direction.
"Obviously, it was disappointing early, but there's a great realisation in this game that we're all just passing parades," Leppitsch said.
"There's been disappointment, there's been levels of inevitability at times and there's been other times I've felt disappointed that this process has happened, but it's also part of the big picture of the footy club and the club is bigger than any individual."
Leppitsch said he first felt his job was in grave danger about two to three weeks before the end of the season.
The coach said he had no problem with captain Tom Rockliff despite their widely reported strained relationship. Asked if Rockliff should be relieved of his role, Leppitsch said there wasn't a Melbourne Cup field coming through to replace him.
He admitted the Lions' well-documented issues at board level had been a distraction at times, but added those matters had been identified and were being worked on.
"The most-important thing is that our football club has a united front going forward," he said.
Leppitsch said he had no issue with being notified of his sacking over the phone or with the players being informed via text message - not email - as had been widely reported.
