Thursday 12 January 2017 16:38, UK
The San Diego Chargers have confirmed their plans to relocate to Los Angeles from the start of the 2017 season.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that Chargers owner Dean Spanos would meet with staff on Thursday morning to inform them of the impending 195km move north along the California coast.
The Chargers have been in San Diego for the last 56 years but frustration has grown in recent years over the failure to secure permission to build a new stadium.
In a letter on the Chargers website, Spanos said: "After much deliberation, I have made the decision to relocate the Chargers to Los Angeles, beginning with the 2017 NFL season.
"San Diego has been our home for 56 years. It will always be part of our identity, and my family and I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the support and passion our fans have shared with us over the years.
"But today, we turn the page and begin an exciting new era as the Los Angeles Chargers.
LA is a remarkable place, and while we played our first season there in 1960 and have had fans there ever since, our entire organisation knows that we have a tremendous amount of work to do.
"We must earn the respect and support of LA football fans. We must get back to winning. And, we must make a meaningful contribution, not just on the field, but off the field as a leader and champion for the community.
"The Chargers are determined to fight for LA and we are excited to get started."
Earlier reports on USA Today suggest the Chargers will play at the 30,000-capacity StubHub Center - home of MLS franchise LA Galaxy - for the next two seasons while their new stadium is being built.
