Cardiff settle tax bill

Cardiff have confirmed they have finally paid the £1.9million owed to HM Revenue and Customs that threatened the Coca-Cola Championship club's existence.

The Bluebirds fought off successive winding-up orders following their initial appearance in court back in November, with the club at the start of this year reducing the £2.7m they originally owed in order to gain more time.

Another court appearance on May 5 handed the Welsh outfit further breathing space to settle the tax debt after they provided evidence of external funding, and that came in the form of a Malaysian consortium led by Dato Chan Tien Ghee.

Their approved investment of around £6m at the end of last month has now meant the outstanding balance has been paid.

Cardiff are due back in the High Court next Wednesday where the petition will be officially discharged.

City came close to securing a money-spinning promotion to the Barclays Premier League while the debt was still hanging over their head, eventually losing 3-2 to Blackpool in the play-off final at Wembley on May 22.