NEW YORK — The owner of the Arena Football League's Los Angeles franchise says the league is poised to call off the 2009 season.

Avengers owner Casey Wasserman tells the Los Angeles Times that the AFL needs to take the time to become more efficient because of the poor economy. Wasserman is a former league chairman and one of the AFL's major power brokers.

Avengers spokesman John Tamanaha confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the team expects the 2009 season to be canceled. Wasserman told the newspaper the decision was not official, but he expected owners to vote to approve it this week.

The AFL issued a statement that did not directly address canceling the season, but said the league "continues to work on long-term structural improvement options."