Western Mail report on High Court hearing

Last updated : 14 March 2008 By Michael Morris

CARDIFF City Football Club could be in administration as early as next week.

The club is expected to learn by Wednesday the result of a two-day hearing at London's High Court into a demand by the club's biggest creditor Langston for immediate repayment of £31m.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale has said that losing the case would result in the club going immediately into administration.

Judge Michael Briggs yesterday ended the hearing in court 59 of the Royal Courts of Justice in London's Strand by saying he intended to deliver his verdict by Wednesday.

On the second day of the hearing yesterday, the club's legal team gave their defence and described Langston's claim as "flawed and opportunistic".

Barrister David Wolfson told the court that the mysterious Panama-based firm, which lent Cardiff City £24m in 2004, was asking for summary judgment as it did not want the facts being fully examined at a trial.

He told the judge, "Their strategy is to keep your Lordship from looking at the documents."

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