PRESS DIGEST - Financial Times - Oct 10 =5

POWERLEAGUE IN EXPANSION TALKS

Powerleague (POPWR.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Britain's largest five-a-side operator, is in talks with professional clubs about locating sites near their grounds as part of its expansion plans. The Scottish company, which currently has 37 centres across the UK, said it planned to target the "untapped" female football market as it announced a 56 percent increase in pre-tax profit to five million pounds. Executive chairman Claude Littner said the company's plans would complement existing arrangements near Stoke City and a site under construction at Shrewsbury Town.

CLINTON TARGETS BIRTHDAY LOSS

Clinton Cards (CLCA.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported improved trading, with revenue for the 52 weeks to July 29 falling to 460.1 million pounds, from 472.3 million pounds a year ago. The cards retailer closed a net 73 stores in the period and saw like-for-like sales increase by 3.1 percent. Clinton-branded stores increased profits while Birthdays, which has proved a problem since its acquisition almost three years ago, reduced its operating loss to 8.7 million pounds, from 13.5 million pounds.