Flint Firebirds' star's father: 'They have to take this team away from' owner Nilsen

The father of Flint Firebirds' leading scorer Will Bitten wants a new owner to take over the OHL club.

Michael Bitten said there's "no way" his son Will - who leads the Firebirds with 23 goals and 51 points - will play for the team next season is Rolf Nilsen is still in control.

"If there are not changes there, my son will not go back, and I don’t think many others would as well,” Michael Bitten told Ken Campbell of The Hockey News.

“It’s probably out of (OHL commissioner) David Branch’s control to a certain extent, but he must have the power to rectify it and I don’t know what that is. But surely they have to take this team away from that man. How can you go on long term?”

The Firebirds fired head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa - again - on Wednesday.

Related: OHL's Flint Firebirds fire coaches for 2nd time this season

The Firebirds host the Erie Otters on Thursday, and Michael expects the players to show up for the game.

“They know a lockout is probably not appropriate any more and a lot of them are nervous about the perception that way,” he said. “And I told David Branch this: the players are putting everything into him to do the right thing.”

Branch said in a statement that the OHL plans to investigate the matter.

"This change, the manner in which it occurred and the way it was communicated to the players and the league is of great concern. It is the league’s intention to immediately review the actions of the Flint Firebirds before we determine the next steps we will take to address this situation.”

Gruden and Karpa were originally fired by Nilsen in November, when the owner was reportedly displeased that his son, Hakon, wasn't getting enough ice time.

Firebirds' players staged a walkout in response, and the coaches were reinstated with three-year contract extensions.

"I spoke with David Branch tonight and I told him that nothing had improved, that the owner continued to do things that were making it difficult for the coaching staff and that stress level gets passed on to the kids,” Michael told Campbell on Wednesday night.

“This owner, he’s a billionaire and it seems like he’s challenging the OHL right now. I really hope they’re able to come to a solution because this problem is not going away.”