A statement from Peter Ridsdale following Saturday's loss to Blackpool in the Championship Play-off Final.

This has been an historic season in so many ways, capped by a heroic performance from the team in reaching the Championship Play-off Final at Wembley and coming so close to realising the dream of so many of us to see Cardiff City reach the Premier League.

Looking out on Saturday, we were all so proud - not least of the 37,000 strong Cardiff City supporters who once again were magnificent and a huge credit to the club on the big stage. It's something that we have become used to of course, following recent years and an exciting first season at Cardiff City Stadium where the fans have been vital on so many occasions.

We are all hugely disappointed not to cross the finish line. And it's a pain that we will carry into the summer after coming so close. That much is obvious.

But at times like this we have to remember the many positives that we can take from last season, while ensuring to learn from our mistakes and vowing to come back stronger as a result.

As a club we have transformed so much in recent years, where we now live in an impressive new stadium, while the squad are based in state-of-the-art facilities at the Vale. It's light-years from where we were standing only five years ago.

It's now a time for Cardiff City fans to look forward and to plan for the next chapter in a remarkable story.

The responsibility of taking the club forward now falls to the new board under the leadership of Dato Chan Tien Ghee, and I wish them every possible success. I have no doubt that they can take the club to the next level.

Despite the disappointment we all share from our Wembley experience, Cardiff City fans can look at the bigger picture, looking forward to a bright future with real optimism.

Next year the club will try again, doing everything possible to build on what has already been achieved. Once again Cardiff City supporters will play a vital role in this, and I wish every fellow Bluebird well as the next part of the club's evolution unfolds.

Peter