Ridsdale fears administration

Cardiff chairman concerned by court case

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 4th March 2008

Ridsdale fears administration

Ridsdale: Concerned

Related links

Teams

Also see

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale admits the club are facing the threat of administration if they lose their court case with their major creditors.

The Bluebirds' main creditors claim that they are owed £24million and they want the money paid back now.

Cardiff, though, insist the money is not due to be repaid until 2016 and the case will now be heard in court on Monday.

And Ridsdale admits that Cardiff's directors will be forced to consider the option of entering administration to pay-off their mounting debts if they lose the case.

Late hour

"I'm hoping that even in this late hour we end up not going to court and that we can resolve things around a table," Ridsdale told Sky Sports News.

"It must be in everyone's interest, both those who we owe money to and of course ourselves, that this is resolved without damaging the club any further.

"But I can only deal with the cards that I'm dealt with and unfortunately I'm sitting here looking as if I'm going to end up in court whatever the outcome might be.

"In terms of administration, the directors would have to decide on what the creditors reaction was to the debt that would be owed under those circumstances."

Stadium plans

However, Ridsdale insists that even in the event of administration Cardiff's plans to move into a new 30,000-seater stadium, which is currently being built in Leckwith, by 2009 would not be damaged.

"In terms of the stadium project, that is ring-fenced and we have always said we will build," said Ridsdale.

"We have put the money into a separate account and as far as I'm concerned this stadium will be built, will be finished and somebody will be playing football in it by 2009.

"Whoever is sitting in my chair is almost irrelevant. The key is that Cardiff City football club will have a new stadium and will watch their team run out in the not too distant future."