The Wetaskiwin and District Amateur Football Association will not operate this season and may permanently shut down, Wetaskiwin city council hearing during their regular meeting on Feb. 24.
"Unfortunately I come to you with hat in hand and heavy heart," said association representative Blain Fuller.
"Wetaskiwin Minor Football club has officially folded for this year and probably permanently," said Fuller.
"Our board of directors are done."
Fuller said the closure was due to "unfortunate circumstances, toxic people (and) inexperienced leadership."
He added minor football is made up of parent volunteers.
"Since there's no program, all the volunteers have since gone to other communities."
Fuller said there's not really a board of directors anymore and it's been left to him to "clean up the mess."
"We might mothball (the program) for a year or two and see if there's some momentum."
He stated there are some bills to be paid, one of which is to the city.
The associated owed $1,402.25 for the use of the field for the 2024 season.
"If we could be forgiven those fees for this year it gives us an opportunity to kind of put things together."
He added it would be difficult to ask the community to raise the funds to pay the bill because there's no longer a program.
"It's kind of a shame, after 20 years of successful and high quality athletes, to have it (end) but it's kind of a sign of the times too. Parents aren't as involved anymore," said Fuller.
"And we certainly don't have any football people to build a program around. We don't have any coaches, we don't have any parents, we don't have any volunteers."
He added he isn't sure what happened but again said that "toxic people, toxic things happen."
Fuller said they may sell off some equipment to recoup some costs and pay outstanding bills.
Coun. Bill Elliot asked if the association could apply for the grant program if it no longer exists.
City manager Sue Howard responded she believes they can apply as long as they're still a non-profit organization.
Council voted to waive the fees later on in the meeting.
