At least eight schools from the Eastern Connecticut Conference may leave by the end of the week to form a new league, perhaps encouraging East Lyme High School to rethink its plans to entertain the Southern Connecticut Conference.

Moreover, league sources say the ECC and SCC could form a scheduling alliance to fill nonconference dates.

The new league, which could retain the ECC name or create a new one, would exist among Norwich Free Academy, New London, Ledyard, Fitch, Waterford, Stonington, Montville, Bacon Academy and likely East Lyme. Athletic directors from the nine schools are scheduled to meet Friday.

It is unclear whether the remaining schools would stay in the ECC or look elsewhere. The league's "small" schools will meet today to discuss the future, inviting Montville and Bacon Academy from the aforementioned list. Officials from Stonington and Waterford said Monday they were not invited.

Waterford, however, will be represented at a meeting of "medium" schools Wednesday.

East Lyme officials and coaches still plan to meet with SCC representatives Thursday night at the high school.

The league underwent expansion and realignment in 1998, inviting schools from northeastern Connecticut to join, hoping to alleviate competitive imbalance. The league, however, has become dysfunctional, burdened by scheduling "opt-outs," leaving schools with open dates to fill.

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius