He is a poacher turned game-keeper. Having been there, they are the best people to handle it

Cardiff City Chairman Sam Hammam

However, Mr Hammam has insisted he wants Mr MacNamara "by his side at Cardiff City".

Mr MacNamara was listed as a Category C hooligan by the National Criminal Intelligence Service - the highest rating possible.

He was seen accompanying Mr Hammam during his controversial and "provocative" walk around the pitch in Cardiff's 2-1 victory over Leeds on Sunday which was dogged by violence.

Mr MacNamara had recently completed a 12-month ban from every football ground in the UK.

A Category C listing defines Mr MacNamara as a hooligan who is prepared to "use violence or an organiser of violence".

But Mr Hamman has revealed he knew about Mr MacNamara's past, and described him as a "poacher turned game-keeper."

"Over a year now, he has been working for us and I knew about a couple of months ago," said Mr Hammam.

'Decent man'

Describing Mr MacNamara as "a close friend", Mr Hammam said that, when he found out he had been banned from soccer grounds, "it made no difference".

"Sometimes in the security business you need to employ someone who is a poacher turned gamekeeper," he added.

Hammam gestures to the crowd during a pitch walk

"They know how hooligans think, they know who they are and they know how to deal with these situations effectively."

"I believe Macca to be a decent man and I want him to continue to be at my side at Cardiff City," continued Mr Hammam.

"I believe in rehabilitation and forgiveness. If someone has done something wrong, we should not shun them forever."

Mr Hammam also described Mr MacNamara as a family man, and described his two daughters as "lovely" and "angelic".

Court fine

In March 2000, Mr MacNamara was arrested at Cardiff City's away match in Blackpool.

He admitted a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour when he appeared before Blackpool magistrates.

He was fined �100, with �60 costs, and the court also placed the 12-month banning order on Mr MacNamara.

"Our records show that Neil MacNamara appeared here on that date," said a Blackpool Magistrates Court spokesman.

In September 1999, Mr MacNamara also appeared at Cardiff Crown Court charged with violent disorder following a match between Cardiff City and Millwall.

However, the case against him was dropped due to a lack of evidence.

However, a senior South Wales Police source is also reported as saying: "In my view, Mr MacNamara should not be guarding Sam Hammam."

"A lot of the fans know Mr MacNamara is a convicted soccer yob - it will only encourage them to misbehave if they see him acting as Hammam's minder," added the source.

Hooliganism debate

Hammam has also said he is committed to ridding the club of hooliganism.

He has now arranged a meeting with fans to talk about how to tackle the problem.

"I am meeting a group of supporters to discuss the situation and put things on the right track," said Mr Hammam.

Following the violence at Sunday's match, a top-level summit is to be held on Friday between the Football Associations of England and Wales.

It is expected that Cardiff will face disciplinary action but Leeds could also find themselves reprimanded over the behaviour of their fans.