Sports Direct closes eight Jack Wills stores with more at risk

Sports Direct said on Thursday that it would aim for staff from the stores affected – Derby, Reigate, Malborough, Rock, Durham, Kingston, Tunbridge Wells and St Albans – to be redeployed elsewhere in the group.

If agreements cannot be reached with landlords to lower rents on other stores they may also close, according to The Financial Times.

Sports Direct acquired 98 Jack Wills stores for £12.8m earlier this month, many of which are located in expensive cities and high-profile locations.

The original Jack Wills store in Salcombe and another store in Downham Market are still co-owned by Peter Williams, the group’s founder.

Sports Direct head of elevation Michael Murray recently told The Financial Times that Jack Wills had “overextended itself”.

“They took super-prime locations where the sales just didn’t justify it,” he said. “They need to focus on their roots as a lifestyle brand.”