The group, founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, blamed the coronavirus lockdown and forced closure of its retail and gym sites for the administration. 

DW Sports, which owns 73 gyms and 75 stores across the UK, would be closing down its ecommerce arm today and that 50 of its stores would “continue to trade and will all be moving into closing down sales today”. It had already closed 25 other stores in recent weeks. 

The group said that its separate Fitness First business would be “unaffected” by DW Sports’ administration.