Ridsdale and Borley fight back

Last updated : 15 August 2007 By Michael Morris
Following on from the shocks of Tuesday afternoon, when those City fans sat in their armchairs nearly choked on their cawl as Sky Sports News revealed we were subject of a £30m lawsuit, there comes positive comments from the City boardroom.

Cardiff City have appointed London-based solicitors Nabbarro's to represent them against the claims made on behalf of the Langston Corporation.

Speaking to the Echo Peter Ridsdale said

> The loan notes taken out by Hammam are for £24m. That figure has been reduced to £15m in exchange for naming rights on Cardiff City's new stadium.

> The two parties have agreed a legally-binding contract which means the £15m must be paid by December 31, 2016.

> Even under the original loan notes agreement, the money was not due to be paid until 2011.

> Within the agreement thrashed out when Hammam left City the former owner is being paid £100,000 a year for three years

Ridsdale responded to the suggestion that a new board would be appointed by saying

"Langston do not have shares in Cardiff City and can't have a say on the appointment of directors. Only the shareholders can."

Co Director Steve Borley told of how the news broke at Ninian Park.

"There are televisions throughout the ground and suddenly the players were talking about the future of the club and the manager wondering whether we would be losing 10 points," he told the Echo.

"It was a bombshell dropped before a cup tie, an unnecessary distraction.

"This club is more stable now than it has been for three years. The stadium will go ahead and there is no danger to that. We are all focused on moving forward.

"Dave Jones has brought in quality players, we have kept our young players and the future is bright.

"The directors remain confident the future is bright.

"The board are totally behind Peter Ridsdale, Cardiff City would not be in the good state it is in now but for him. He has led us through the turmoil."

And what for us as fans? We thought our only crisis at the moment was for a new striker.

We are left to guess and second guess as to what exactly is going on and the motives for doing so. Only time and a likely court case looks like being able to settle this unfortunate mess.