The National Lacrosse League has received a letter of intent to relocate the Columbus Landsharks franchise to Montreal, effective next season, according to a report in today's Toronto Star.

The petition to move seems destined for approval, with an announcement expected within a week.

Who filed the letter of intent or under what pretenses is not clear, although it appears that this will boil down to a buy-and-move operation, similar to how the Toronto Rock, Ottawa Rebel, and Washington Power landed in their respective cities in recent years.

As first reported two days ago, Canadian indoor lacrosse mogul Brad Watters and his latest group of investors have abandoned their quest to bring an expansion team to Montreal for the 2002 season, instead focusing on purchasing the Landsharks.

Watters already is governor and co-owner of the Rock, as well as primary owner of the Rebel.

A sign of the impending move came yesterday, when it was announced that Landsharks coach and general manager Marty Cooper was stepping down. If Watters takes over the Landsharks, Cooper could not remain coach -- former Attack coach Terry Sanderson has already been hired to fill that position.

Another sign perhaps can be found in Monday's trade of young defenseman Marshall Abrams to Rochester for Brad MacArthur and Jason Crosbie. Put aside the fact that MacArthur and Crosbie fit Sanderson's preferred style of player better than Abrams -- they are also both from Ontario (Abrams is a native of Syracuse, NY), and Sanderson's preference with Albany was to stock the team with eastern-bred Canadians.

That the Landsharks were having off-field problems was no secret this season, but the depth of the red ink and the extent of managing partner John Livsey's restless nights weren't fully understood until a newspaper report a week ago suggested that the team might fold or suspend operations if financial help could not quickly be found.

The Landsharks would play their home games at Molson Centre if the relocation goes through. However, the team will be renamed, as Watters has already picked a name, logo, and colors in anticipation of an expansion franchise.