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Friday, 21 September 2007, 12:29 GMT 13:29 UK

Ridsdale offers to quit Cardiff

Peter Ridsdale Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale has offered to quit the club because he is fed up with abuse from supporters.

He confirmed to BBC Wales he feels he is being driven out by fans who he says want former chairman and owner Sam Hammam back in charge of the club.

"I am getting more stick for saving Cardiff City than I did when things went wrong at Leeds," said Ridsdale.

"If the fans want Sam Hammam back in charge, as many of them are telling me, then maybe they should have him."

Former Leeds chairman Ridsdale, who openly talks to supporters and hands out his mobile number, said a number of abusive texts have pushed him to the brink.

Some have called for the return of Hammam, with one text saying: "We want Sam Hammam back."

"Criticise me by all means, but don't keep telling me you want Sam Hammam back"
Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale

Ridsdale offered his resignation at a board meeting but was unanimously turned down by the club's directors.

"Right now, I feel like walking away," he said. "The future for the football club would be bleak, maybe even liquidation.

"Do I want to do that? No, I really am passionate about what's happening.

"Am I being driven away? Yes. I believe I am."

When Ridsdale arrived at Ninian Park in 2005, Cardiff were losing £9m a year and had debts of £30m with the new stadium project looking in tatters.

Hammam left the club last October so that new investors could come in and sold his stake two months later, leaving former Leeds chairman Ridsdale to take control.

But last month Cardiff were threatened with court action over a £24m loan from Cardiff backers Langston, taken out by Hammam.

Langston's solicitors, Hextalls, claim the club's board was mismanaging its finances and misleading supporters and said the money had to be paid immediately.

But Ridsdale said all contact with Langston had been made through Hammam and insisted the loan is not due to be paid back until 2016.

"People ring me saying when Sam Hammam left we were top of the Championship, but Sam Hammam could not even sign cheques for two years," he said.

"It was me who brought in Michael Chopra, Stephen McPhail and more.

606: DEBATE
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"The progress since those days has been unbelievable.

"Criticise me by all means, but don't keep telling me you want Sam Hammam back.

"I have put half a million pounds of my own money into this football club.

"I have done that because I believe in what is happening here.

"How much of his own money did Sam Hammam put in?"




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Related to this story:

Cardiff teams agree ground share (19 Sep 07 |  Wales )
Cardiff chief rejects debt claim (15 Aug 07 |  Cardiff City )
Cardiff facing court over '£30m' (15 Aug 07 |  Cardiff City )
Hammam accused of Cardiff 'greed' (23 Dec 06 |  Cardiff City )
Cardiff debt deal ends Hammam era (22 Dec 06 |  Wales )
Hammam devastated by Cardiff exit (29 Oct 06 |  Cardiff City )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (24 Dec 06 |  Wales )

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