Peter Ridsdale admits the "future of the club is at stake" when Cardiff's court case with creditors Langston comes to a head on Wednesday.The Bluebirds booked a visit to the capital to face Barnsley in the FA Cup semi-finals next month after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 on Sunday.

But before Wembley the club first face a far more daunting trip to London to the High Court, where their case with principal financial backers Langston will be heard.

The Swiss-based firm say the club's £24million debt, which dates back to the previous regime at Ninian Park, is due to be repaid now, but the Bluebirds are adamant the majority of the money is not due until 2016.

Should the Welsh side lose, they could be ordered to repay the debt immediately, a situation which could force them into administration.

The case has been billed as City's second major clash of the week following their triumph on Teesside - but Ridsdale believes there are major differences between the two.

"It's important for the club," he said. "At the end of the day, there's a slight difference to some extent between Sunday's performance and this week's.

"On Sunday that was a team assembled by Dave (Jones) and myself for the club and I felt very much a part of that.

"In terms of the court case, this is a dispute about something that was put in place prior to my arrival.

"I find it disappointing because I think people ought to be sitting down and talking, not rushing off to court.

"Obviously the future of the club is at stake but it's out of my hands."

Ridsdale conceded the club is certain to be "materially damaged" by a defeat but refused to be drawn on the possibility of administration.

"If we lose the case I will have to take legal advice - and obviously I will stand by that legal advice," he added.

"There is no doubt that if we do lose then it will materially damage the club because we don't have £30million to hand over to somebody.

"I am very close to my legal advisers and as a director of the company I would have to take the appropriate reaction as recommended by the expert in company law."

As for Cardiff's remarkable run to the last four, Ridsdale believes Jones and his players have done an "outstanding job" maintaining their focus on the pitch during what has been a difficult time off it.

"The team played well," added Ridsdale. "I think anybody that watched it on the television would agree that we deserved to win.

"I think to go and play Premier League opposition away from home and come away with a victory clearly credit deserves to go to Dave and the players. They have done an outstanding job to remain focused."

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