The Ottawa Rebel's proposed move to southwestern Ontario is just about dead and the team likely will suspend operations, the London Free Press reported today.

The Rebel, which has not produced a contender in its six seasons of existence (including three as the Syracuse Smash), had been looking at the 9100-seat John Labatt Centre in London, located midway between Toronto and Detroit.

However, time was simply too short for the Rebel to arrange the relocation.

"There are discussions," team co-owner Randy Gillies said. "But in light of the fact the timelines are such that you have to make some very, very hard decisions within the next couple of days and in consideration of the fact we haven't really got the level of detail we need to see this happen, it probably won't."

If the club suspends operations, the league may require it to so very quickly. NLL executives believe that if a team folds while there is no collective bargaining agreement, that team's players become free agents.

The current CBA expires at 11:59 PM on Thursday, and a new deal with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association isn't close.

That has forced the league office to quickly set up a dispersal draft, if necessary, and to warn all clubs to be ready to conduct that draft no later than Thursday afternoon.

A dispersal draft could also involve players from the Columbus Landsharks and New York Saints (both of which are co-owned by Mike Gongas and Charlie Russo), but both likely will be sold.

The NHL's Phoenix Coyotes are close to buying a stake in the Landsharks (Gongas and Russo will retain a controlling interest). As part of the deal, the lacrosse team would relocate to a new arena being constructed in Glendale, Arizona.

The Saints, on the other hand, will remain on Long Island if their sale goes through. A new lease, which would keep the team at Nassau Coliseum for at least another couple of seasons, reportedly has been signed.