After 'Mismanagement,' Hawks Football and Cheer to Reorganize

Parents and officials at a Manchester American Youth Football meeting Monday night agreed to form a new governing board to work toward fixing the organization that was revealed to be in debt. 

Manchester's program has been in disarray recently — its finances are in question and some cheer parents wanted to form a separate recreation group, citing issues with AYF. After a public meeting Monday night led by AYF regional leadership, Manchester residents appeared eager to rectify the concerns. 

"All I can say today is your organization has $576 in the bank," said Craig Karahuta, president of the New Jersey AYF Jersey Shore Conference, who led the meeting. It appears that, between $16,000 in debt and player fees, the organization is down $24,000, he said.

Through a preliminary review of the Manchester AYF's finances by Karahuta, it was found that fees to vendors are outstanding. Additionally, tax returns haven't been filed by Manchester AYF since 2009, which could jeopardize its nonprofit status.

Manchester Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski, who was in attendance at the meeting, said afterward that authorities will investigate the organization's finances. 

"We're certainly going to look into all of the misappropriation of funds to ensure there was no criminal wrongdoing," he said.

The program's former president, Renee Hourigan, recently resigned because of "mismanagement," Karahuta said. The cheer program planned to leave AYF, citing a desire for more competition opportunities and a poor experience at an AYF national competition. 

"Maybe this is a good thing. Now we can fix this program and make it whole," Karahuta said. "All of this needs to be fixed before you can even think about operating again."

Parents filled the civic center at the Manchester Municipal Complex for a nearly two hour meeting. Many questioned how they can get the program back on the right track.

"I need to know if AYF cheer and football plan to stay under AYF," Council President Craig Wallis asked the crowd, which responded with an audible "yes." 

Karahuta ripped up a copy of the letter Hourigan sent stating that the cheer program wanted to leave AYF. 

"I can't, very politely, rip this retraction letter up," Karahuta said. And he did, to no objection from parents. 

Karahuta proposed — and parents seemed agreeable to — the formation of a new board that will, with the help of AYF leadership, work toward getting Manchester's finances in order. Children will be able to continue to participate, covered by AYF insurance, until May 11. After that, parents can decide if they want to leave the organization.

The new board will be formed during a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, April 8, again in the township's civic center. Many expressed interest at the meeting in joining the board and signed up on the spot — others who are interested will have the opportunity to sign up by email through an address to be posted on the Manchester AYF website.

Wallis said that the township will do what it can to help the organization get back on its feet after a new board is established. 

Manchester AYF's usage of the "Cheer Barn," a township-owned practice facility located on Route 571 was also cleared up at the meeting. The space is used by Manchester AYF through a lease from the township, meaning the organization can practice there because it is insured by AYF. Another recreational organization — like a recreational cheer program — cannot use the facility uninsured, according to township officials. 

The upkeep of the building is the responsibility of the lessee, said township Business Administrator Elena Zsoldos.