Director ban for Preston's Ridsdale

The Preston chairman, Peter Ridsdale, has been banned from holding company directorships for seven and a half years after an investigation into financial irregularities by the Insolvency Service.

It relates to payments of £347,000 by Cardiff City to Ridsdale between May 2007 and March 2009. The monies should have gone to his WH Sports Group consultancy service. WHSG was liquidated in April 2009 with liabilities of £478,698, including £442,353 owed to HMRC. Ridsdale's wife Sophie was a co-director and has also been banned. Ridsdale's role at Preston will not be affected.