Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft and St. Louis...

Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft and St. Louis civic leaders met with the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals in a last-ditch attempt to keep him from moving the NFL franchise out of town.

Owner William Bidwill reportedly was “leaning heavily” toward moving his team to the Phoenix-Tempe area.

The Boston Globe, describing its sources as “solid,” said Bidwill will announce the intention to move at a news conference Thursday.