Sporting Digest: Football

.Ghana has withdrawn its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals.

Dundee United's profits collapsed by almost 80 per cent during the 1997- 98 season. The Tannadice Park club made pounds 139,112 - a drop of more than pounds 400,000 on the previous season.

John Martin, Airdrie's veteran goalkeeper, has announced his decision to retire at the end of the season. Martin, 40, made 767 appearances in a 19-year career with the Diamonds.