Sporting Digest: Football

Port Vale made a record profit of more than pounds 600,000 in the last financial year, but still owe the bank pounds 751,000. However, the accounts do not include the pounds 1.5m Vale received from the sale of Jon McCarthy to Birmingham City.

FIFA WORLD RANKINGS Leading positions: 1 Brazil 72.15pts, 2 Spain 65.20, 3 Germany 63.03, 4 Czech Republic 61.97, 5 Romania 61.87, 6 Denmark 60.85, 7 England 60.66, 8 Holland (9) 60.59, 9 Russia 60.01, 10 Mexico 59.94; 11 Colombia 59.51, 12 Norway 59.45, 13 Argentina 58.09, 14 France 57.88, 15 Morocco 57.65, 16 Italy 57.56, 17 Sweden 57.18, 18 Bulgaria 56.76, 19 Zambia 56.07, 20 Japan 56.00. Selected: 25 Scotland (29) 54.38, 33 Australia (50) 52.53, 43 Ireland (36) 47.33, 75 Northern Ireland (64) 37.80, 98 Wales (80) 31.05.