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Citing financial concerns, the Montreal Alouettes have disbanded their cheerleading squad ahead of the 2020 season.

“This decision has nothing to do with the hard work (the cheerleaders) put in, or their popularity,” said Charles Rooke, the Alouettes president of communications. “In the current context of financial turnaround, difficult decisions must be made.”

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Ownership of the team was taken over by the Canadian Football League last spring after years of heavy losses by the Wetenhall family — who brought the franchise back to Montreal in 1997. The team was sold to Toronto-based businessmen Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern in January.

News of the disbanded cheerleading squad came after coach Annie Larouche posted a statement “with a broken heart” on her Facebook page.

“I have literally spent half my life surrounded by amazing women and men,” she wrote. “You have been a source of inspiration and pure happiness and I am exceedingly proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Larouche has been with the Alouettes for 24 years. She said she will continue her work with youth as director general of the Alouettes Foundation.

“You are good, you are beautiful and you are capable. Go play outside,” Larouche wrote.