SFL London Transferred, Inactive for Season 21

The Simulation Football League has approved the transfer of the London Knights franchise to Jonny Pichler, effective immediately. The transfer was a mutual decision by all parties.

The franchise will move and be re-branded under Pichler's direction but will be considered inactive for Season 21 and not begin competition until Season 22 (Winter 2024), agreed to by all parties. With increased branding opportunities through uniforms and stadium construction, the league has granted more time for the franchise to build its staff, work on its brand and construct its stadium over the next six months.

"I'm delighted to be able to pass on the baton of SFL ownership to Jonny Pichler," Crowter said. "When I first spoke to Jonny prior to his drafting in St. Louis, I realised quickly that he was a person of great talent and integrity and he brought that to his time in London as our Quarterback, and more recently as our General Manager, where he succeeded in the steps of other great men like Matthew Slinn, Tanner Hendrix, Chad Roland and Jeff Gagne.

No matter where our team ends up, I know that Jonny will honour the spirit of the ground-breaking play and locker room character that London brought to the SFL. We set multiple team and individual records and awards, created many all stars, including the most this past season, and redefined offensive play in the SFL through our finesse style backs and overwhelming firepower. I will fondly remember our rivalries, and especially so the first TV game in SFL history against Demond Simien's Houston Hyenas.

Whilst I will be transitioning out of ownership, I look forward to continuing to explore my opportunities in the SFL as a player, team administrator and most importantly as a fan.

Thank you to everybody who has supported me and helped me throughout the SFL, both on and off the field."

London joined the SFL in Season 11 as an expansion team and has been owned by Liam Crowter since its inception. The team has compiled a 61-78 record with seven playoff games and three postseason victories. The team racked up 12 wins in Season 19 (franchise record) and earned the league's No. 1 seed, setting the league's current net point differential mark in a season. The Knights won 25 of their last 28 games at Queensway.

"I appreciate all that Crowter has contributed to the league and his team on and off the field over the last five years - the league wouldn't be where it is today without some of those contributions, especially with his work with our previous stat system and web advancements," said Commissioner Cameron Irvine. "I'm looking forward to what the next chapter of this storied franchise may hold as we transition into a new era of SFL football."

Pichler will be making an official statement at a later time.

Season 21 will operate with the other 27 teams under the same divisional structure. For more information on that, see the article here.