State Rep. Jack Williams told AL.com Thursday morning he's received "strong indications" that UAB President Ray Watts has decided not to reinstate the school's football program and plans to announce that news Friday night.

"This could lead to irreparable damage at UAB in its relationship with the community," Williams said.

UAB released a statement later Thursday morning saying that no decision has been made yet on the possible return of football, rifle and bowling.

Williams said he believes Watts "is holding fast" to his original decision to eliminate the sports, which was announced Dec. 2 of last year, despite the positive nature of the College Sports Solutions report on bringing back those sports.

Williams said two key meetings are scheduled for this morning to try to convince Watts to reinstate football. Williams said four local business leaders have a meeting scheduled with University of Alabama System trustee Johnny Johns, and local philanthropist Jimmy Filler has a meeting scheduled with Watts.

Williams said he understands that Filler plans to present Watts with a multimillion-dollar guaranteed letter of credit to contribute to upgrading UAB's football facilities if that sport is reinstated.

If Watts still refuses to reinstate football, despite the money raised by Filler, other boosters, the city of Birmingham and the UAB Undergraduate Student Government Association, Williams said, "I think this would cement his legacy in a very destructive way. His tenure at UAB will be marked by his destructive behavior."

(Updated to include a statement from UAB.)