BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Bears have suspended operations for a year and plan to return as a developmental team in 2016.

Kirk Bergbigler, owner and head coach of the five-year semi-pro football franchise, said that “the word ‘semi-pro’ seemed to leave a black eye with our organization.”

The Bears finished 1-7 last season and were no longer permitted to play games at Butler’s Memorial Park after a fight broke out following a home game late last season.

The team had gained permission to play its home games at Art Bernardi Stadium this spring and summer.

A low turnout at the Bears’ first scheduled practice Tuesday night forced Bergbigler to pull the plug on this season, however.

“We only had eight players show up and we needed at least 30,” Bergbigler said. “After ending last season on a bad note, four or five guys committed to playing for other teams, another four or five retired.

“We had 20 to 25 guys show up for our initial off-season meeting, but only 10 or 15 showed up for the next meeting. The numbers just aren’t there.”

Two former Bears players — twins Jerod and Justin Hutchison of Chicora — will be playing college football this fall. Jerod is a wide receiver at Thaddeus Stevens in eastern Pennsylvania while Justin is walking on as a defensive lineman at Clarion.

“Justin is getting quite a bit of playing time in Clarion’s spring game,” Bergbigler said. “Both of those guys admitted they could not have moved on to college ball without playing for the Bears first.

“There’s a lot of talented players in this region who graduate from high school, don’t have immediate college football opportunities, so they’re done. We decided to restructure our organization to give kids in that situation a chance to extend their playing careers.”

Bergbigler and assistant coaches Ray Hooks and Dale Hutchison plan to meet next month to begin the Bears’ transformation into a developmental team. Preliminary plans are to return to the Ohio Football League in 2016.

“That’s the league that’s best suited for what we want to do,” Bergbigler said.

He estimates needing a roster of at least 35 players to put a team on the field.

“With older guys, they tend to treat playing football as more of a hobby,” Bergbigler said. “They don’t always come to practice or take practice all that seriously and that makes it difficult to put a viable product on the field.

“Getting guys just coming out of high school, the work ethic is still instilled in them. Plus, they’re hungry to give themselves a chance to advance farther in football.”

The Butler County Bears have played five years of semi-pro football. They played in one league championship game and reached the playoffs three times.

“We did well, but it’s time to go in a new direction,” Bergbigler said.