Ridsdale 'on Brink of Cardiff Takeover'

Peter Ridsdale is on the brink of an astonishing eight-figure buyout of Cardiff, three years after the former Leeds chairman left Elland Road and with United now in the relegation zone.

Ridsdale, who made his name with retail giants Top Man, is understood to be buying Sam Hammam's 81.5 per cent shareholding in the Championship leaders, in a deal to be concluded before Christmas. The Yorkshireman is expected to inject an initial £10million into City - the sum earmarked for trading and to cover medium-term club borrowing secured by bank bonds.

Ridsdale remains a controversial figure after being heavily involved with the rise and dramatic fall of Leeds, who went from being Champions League semi-finalists in 2001 to relegation from the Premiership in 2004. A 2-1 defeat to Cardiff in the FA Cup in January 2002, at a time when Leeds led the Premiership, appeared to spark a decline. Ridsdale is still blamed by current United owner Ken Bates for the club's vast debts - once close to £100m.

Hammam, who was chairman of Wimbledon through their top-flight years, bought Cardiff for £3.2m six years ago. Under his guidance City have moved from what is now League Two to within sight of the Premiership. But City's success came at a vast price - the record-breaking transfer fees for past big names Peter Thorne, Spencer Prior and Graham Kavanagh leading to balance sheet losses of around £30m just 18 months ago.

Robert Earnshaw, James Collins, Danny Gabbidon, Jobi McAnuff and striker Cameron Jerome, to Birmingham last July, all went in a £12m sell off - action all seen as essential by Ridsdale, who first became involved at Ninian Park 17 months ago. Hammam is believed to have been fighting cancer for the past year and is now handing over control to Ridsdale, the man he had installed as City's deputy chairman.

Ridsdale was a major influence in bringing former Southampton and Wolves manager Dave Jones to the Bluebirds and has helped transform City. Prudent housekeeping has slashed crippling expenditure. Ridsdale's negotiation with city council planners and building contractors means the building of Cardiff's proposed £35m 30,000 all-seat stadium will finally get underway this December.

With Cardiff riding high at the Championship summit, gates have risen - City enjoying three near-20,000 lockout attendances in their past four home games.

Risdale is expected to become Cardiff's new chairman with immediate effect, with Hammam becoming life president.