SWINDON Town may be claiming a first round victory' in their legal battle against Bill Power - but the former QPR chairman is still "100 per cent confident" he will win the war.

The club released a strongly-worded statement yesterday, urging Power to settle his claim for £1.12m out of court, after his attempt to bring the judgement forward was rebuffed.

Town say the High Court's decision to hear the case in full proves the strength of their argument that Power's money was invested in shares, but Power has rubbished these claims.

He is still adamant the £1.12m was a loan and insists the latest court judgement has done nothing but prolong Town's losing battle.

The club have also questioned the real motives behind Power's court battle, while insisting the acceptance by him and business partner Phil Emmel of the decision to continue the legal process shows even they think they might have got it wrong.

Power invested £1.12m into the club in the summer of 2006 and there has been debate ever since about whether it was a loan or as shares.

He said: "I am totally speechless they have put that statement up. I don't know what to say really other than I will see them in court.

"The court's decision to hear the case certainly does not mean we have lost. Far from it, we will win as it will be proved the money was a loan.

"I am not happy to go to court because no one wants it to end that way but they will have a long wait if they are wanting us to call them. I think it is past that.

"We are looking forward to our day in court."

Club director Bob Holt argued money spent on the legal process could be better spent in the club's current financial situation.

He said: "When things are going well on the pitch and we are trying to secure the financial future of the club through sale negotiations, this litigation is a huge unnecessary distraction."

Advisor for the club's major shareholders the Wills family, Mike Diamandis, also urged the pair to settle the case amicably.

He said: "Much of the present ill-feeling towards the board emanated from a meeting of October 6 last year when Paul Davis (TrustSTFC chairman) presented a report regarding Bill Power's departure from the club.

"The fans consortium failed to make a formal offer for the club yet has harangued the current board and the Wills family for the last 12 months.

"In September of last year Sir Seton Wills was planning for the long term future of the club, but by Christmas this negative campaign had resulted in Sir Seton's decision to sell the football club.

"Now that Bill Power and Phil Emmel have seen the strength of our case, I hope we can sit down and resolve this amicably. I await their call."

He continued: "As far as I am concerned he has bought shares in the club. If he wants to trade them then I am happy with that.

"He is a busy man so I am sure he would prefer to sort out a deal. I would like him to call me so that we can sit down and resolve this amicably.

"Until someone else takes over the club we are still the people trying to keep it going."