Chairman Peter Ridsdale would rather Cardiff's case went ahead

Langston's solicitors, Hextalls, have requested the hearing - which had been scheduled for Monday - be deferred until 18 January at the earliest.

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale says the club has "reluctantly agreed" so as not to waste the High Court's time.

Langston is owed �24m which it wants repaid now, but Bluebirds officials insist the sum is not due until 2016.

Ridsdale told BBC Sport Wales: "We have had a request from Hextalls. We believe the court case should go ahead on Monday and we believe if it did, we would win it.

"We are extremely disappointed at the further delay. But we are mindful of the fact that we do not want to waste the court's time.

"Therefore we expect the court to accede to Langston's request.

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''We think it should be heard on Monday. They are saying they are not in a position to respond to our response until January 18th at the earliest."

Ridsdale added that the Cardiff City defence against the claim from the Swiss-based firm, Cardiff's biggest creditor, was "thorough and robust".

Far from aiding the club, the delay could add to the financial pressures on the Championship outfit as the case looms over them.

"We are reviewing our financial position in view of this delay, which we find particularly unhelpful to this football club," Ridsdale said.

"We would urge Langston to enter into meaningful discussions with the club to avoid the court case."

BBC Sport Wales have attempted to contact Hextalls, but they have not yet replied.

Ridsdale has warned that the court case could force the club into administration.

"If we were to lose we would go into administration - it's a straightforward situation," Ridsdale said.

Cardiff do not have the immediate funds to repay the loan notes to Langston, meaning if the club loses the legal argument it will have no choice but to enter administration.

With Cardiff hovering just above the Championship relegation zone, entering administration would likely condemn the club to a drop into League One.

Under Football League rules any club entering administration is automatically deducted 10 league points.

"The club's Championship status would be determined by the amount of points we collect come the end of the season, minus 10," Ridsdale added.