The National Lacrosse League will announce the fate of the Montreal Express franchise on Friday, and it's not expected to be good news for fans in Quebec.

Asked in an interview today what the chances are that the Express will return to Molson Centre for the 2003 season, Brad Watters, head of the team's ownership group, said, "I don't think it looks great."

The problem in Montreal, it appears, isn't a lack of fans but rather a lack of paying fans. The Express drew an average announced home crowd of 7,969 to Molson Centre in its debut season, but many tickets were distributed free, pushing paid attendance figures considerably lower.

Watters will participate in a conference call tomorrow with the league's other governors, at which time he is expected to declare his team's intentions. It could include the sale of the franchise, on the market for $1.2 million (US) since March, to investors who would move it.

"There are three different propositions involved, three different avenues we're trying to pursue," Watters said Tuesday, but would not elaborate on what they are.

One option available to Watters is a suspension of operations for one year while Watters continues to try selling the team. It is believed to be the most likely of the three, but is also the least desirable.

Watters ruled out a relocation within Canada, but moving to the United States is a possibility. Tampa Bay and San Jose have previously been identified as potential destinations, but it is unclear if either is still in the running.

It is possible that Watters' group would continue to own the Express in a new city, although that is very unlikely and would be quite unexpected.

In addition to his involvement with the Express, Watters leads the ownership group of the Ottawa Rebel and is governor of the Toronto Rock. He also owns a Canadian Football League franchise.