Court lifeline for City

Swiss investment bank Langston is suing the club over loan notes which it holds and had sought "summary judgment" - meaning the Championship club should pay up now.

But Mr Justice Briggs, sitting in London, dismissed the claim for summary judgment.

As a result, the case will go forward to a full trial of the complex issues involved.

The judge said the case was "clearly unsuitable for summary determination".

He refused Langston permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

The judge was invited by both sides in the dispute to delay the full hearing of the case for two months in the hope that it can now be resolved without the need for further court action.

The Coca-Cola Championship club, who are still savouring their FA Cup quarter-final victory against Middlesbrough, had faced possible administration if Langston succeeded in their claim.

Langston's counsel, Michael Driscoll QC, had told the court it was accepted by both parties that the bank were a substantial creditor of the club and that the debt owed to them was in excess of £15million.

It was also commonly accepted that Langston loaned £24million to the club in 2004 and it had yet to be repaid anything. It was the club's case that nothing was payable at the moment.