BUTLER TWP — Butler Area High School football is going independent.

The program decided to leave the WPIAL for a minimum of two years following a meeting Thursday involving the athletic director, school board and administration.

Butler had until Friday to notify the WPIAL of its scheduling intentions. No other sports will be affected.

“I'll be sending an email to the WPIAL Friday morning notifying them not to issue us a football schedule for next season,” said Butler athletic director Bill Mylan. “This is a very tough decision, leaving the WPIAL, but we believe this is in the best interest of our football program.”

Butler will put together its own schedule and be ineligible for postseason play as an independent. Because the WPIAL schedules by two-year increments, the Golden Tornado football program could not return to that organization until the 2022 season.

Superintendent Brian White will issue a letter Friday to parents in the district detailing the football program's new direction.

Butler football coach Eric Christy said the change was needed for the health and longevity of the program.

“This is a positive step for us moving forward,” Christy said.

The hope is the move will improve the roster numbers, which were a major issue for the Golden Tornado over the past several seasons.

“I think with a more competitive schedule, the kids will respond,” the coach said.

Mylan said the administration and school board “gave us their blessings” in terms of doing what's necessary to move the football program forward “in a positive way.”Butler began the 2019 season with a 40-player roster, but those numbers dwindled into the upper 20s quickly. The low numbers made effective practice sessions difficult and ultimately contributed to the district's decision to go independent next season.“This (independent) move is something we feel we have to do for the good of the program and our student-athletes,” Mylan said.Butler hopes to play a nine-game schedule next season with the possibility of a 10th game.“We know we're playing Kiski Area in a Week Zero game,” Mylan said. “That's the only game we have on the schedule officially for next year.”He added that the 2020 schedule likely will include five District 10 teams and a couple of WPIAL opponents.With Pine-Richland dropping to Class 5A next season, the WPIAL will have only eight Class 6A football programs. That would give those teams a seven-game conference schedule.

“We have a lot of irons in the fire right now,” Mylan said of scheduling possibilities. “We don't know if the WPIAL is going to allow a cross-scheduling of 6A teams playing 5A teams or if those 6A teams will be able to find two or three opponents on their own.“If we're able, we'd like to have Norwin and Hempfield on our schedule. We've been in conversation with those schools.”Butler has not posted a winning football season since 1997. Since then, the Tornado advanced to the WPIAL playoffs only twice, in 1998 and 2011.Butler is coming off consecutive winless seasons and has been losing by lopsided scores in recent years to traditional powerhouses like North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Central Catholic. Butler has not defeated county rival Seneca Valley in 13 years.Butler and Seneca Valley are not expected to play each other next season, though they may get together for a preseason scrimmage.Butler recently petitioned the WPIAL to be released from its current district — District 7 — only in football so the team could join District 10. Following a meeting of the WPIAL Board of Control and on advice from its legal counsel, the WPIAL denied that request last month.Recently, Butler submitted a request to District 10 for acceptance as a non-member. That was denied as well.“We need to find a way to jump-start the program, increase interest and get our numbers up,” Mylan said recently.