FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff City fended off a High Court claim yesterday for immediate payment of more than £30 million.

The Championship club had faced an immediate demand for payment of the sum to Switzerland-based investment company Langston Corporation.

Langston asked judge Mr Justice Michael Briggs to grant summary judgment, without the need for a full trial, on its claim for immediate payment of the sum it says is due on a 2004 loan to the club of £24 million.

However, ruling that it was not appropriate to grant summary judgment in this case, the judge said: "I have reached the clear conclusion that this is not a case for summary judgment, because the club has a real prospect of a successful defence."

The judge stayed the action until June 10.

He refused permission for Langston to appeal against yesterday's decision but granted the stay to give them an opportunity to go directly to the Court of Appeal to renew their application.

The club's lawyer David Wolfson said the stay would allow it to "concentrate on matters on the pitch" and expressed the hope this would give the parties an opportunity to settle the dispute without the need to return to court.