The 56-year-old has never been far from controversy, not least during his time at Leeds, where he remains a scapegoat for their financial troubles and slide down the football pyramid.

Following another tumultuous reign at Barnsley, his latest challenge at City has posed a whole new set of potential problems.

Only days after their quarter-final success over Middlesbrough, a summary judgment ruled debts of £24million dating back to a previous regime would not have to be repaid immediately.

However, the case is due to go to a full trial this summer and should they lose, the threat of administration would loom large.

Saturday's match is sure to provide the Bluebirds chairman with some anxious moments, but he insists none will compare to what he has been through of late.

"It will be a special day for me and my family as I have been a director in football for 21 years and never been to an FA Cup final," said Ridsdale.

"Given some of the things that have happened in the last five or six years it will give me great pleasure.

"We have also been through some difficult times at Cardiff as a lot of things have been thrown at us and it has been my most stressful three years in football.

"Here, every morning I've been waking up in a cold sweat and we have had to sell to survive each summer."

Few at the Welsh club know Ridsdale better than Stephen McPhail, whose career has followed a remarkably similar path to that of his chairman.

The midfielder was part of David O'Leary's young Leeds squad that reached the Champions League semi-finals and also played at Oakwell when Ridsdale was chairman.

Now, they are together for a third time at Ninian Park, where the Republic of Ireland international insists Ridsdale has "worked miracles".

"He has had a tough time coming out of Leeds and everyone knows about that," McPhail said.

"He felt he wanted to take up another challenge and can't have done better than he has here.

"He has performed miracles here and I am sure he is as pleased as punch to get to a cup final.

"The three clubs I was at he has been at too so I know him quite well.

"He took a lot of flak at Leeds, which is a pity as he is a decent man behind it all.

"His family got quite a lot of abuse and that was a worry more than anything.

"I don't think anyone should have to go through that."

It will be the first time Cardiff have reached an FA Cup final for 81 years - the year they became the only non-English side to win the competition.

But while McPhail insists they have nothing to be scared of against Pompey, he concedes there may be nothing they can do to stop the Barclays Premier League side if they are on top of their game.

"Their confidence won't be as high as usual (after losing the last four) but we know if they are at 100% they are going to beat us - it is as simple as that," he added.

"But we feel like we can play against Premier League sides and play well, as we proved against Middlesbrough.

"We are looking forward to it, we don't fear them."