Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale thinks Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth will help make up for the "most stressful" period of his career.

The 56-year-old has never been far from controversy, not least during his time at Leeds, where he remains a scapegoat for their financial troubles and slide down the football pyramid. Following another tumultuous reign at Barnsley, his latest challenge at City has posed a whole new set of potential problems.

Only days after their quarter-final success over Middlesbrough, a summary judgment ruled debts of £24million dating back to a previous regime would not have to be repaid immediately. However, the case is due to go to a full trial this summer and should they lose, the threat of administration would loom large.

Saturday's match is sure to provide the Bluebirds chairman with some anxious moments, but he insists none will compare to what he has been through of late.

"It will be a special day for me and my family as I have been a director in football for 21 years and never been to an FA Cup final," said Ridsdale. "Given some of the things that have happened in the last five or six years it will give me great pleasure.

"We have also been through some difficult times at Cardiff as a lot of things have been thrown at us and it has been my most stressful three years in football. Here, every morning I've been waking up in a cold sweat and we have had to sell to survive each summer."