Amongst the JJB Sports stores to close in Lancashire leading to 59 staff loses, is it’s Preston outlet.

Although their Chorley shop has been sold to Sports Direct saving the jobs of 7, staff at the Preston store have been made redundant.

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Richard Fleming, UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, commented:

“Successive attempts to restructure the business, both financially and operationally, have not been enough to prevent the company falling into administration.  Unfortunately a buyer could only be found for 20 stores on a going concern basis.  All staff made redundant as a result of store closures have had their arrears of wages and holiday entitlements paid in full.  Our team of employment specialists will be supporting staff on completing redundancy forms and putting them in touch with job seeker services.  We! will now be reviewing what options are available for the remainder of the business, such as selling leasehold interests.”

David McCorquodale, corporate finance partner, added:

“In spite of the severity of financial distress suffered by the business, we spoke with over 100 parties in the first few days of our appointment; with 8 trade and private equity players tabling first round bids.  Unfortunately the level of cash and further operational restructuring required to rescue a more substantial part of the business was too much risk for most interested parties.  We hope to be able to sell the leasehold interests of some of the remaining stores, which may result in re-employment of some staff.”

The JJB name will vanish from the high street as Sports Direct intends to convert all stores as part of the deal, in which it also acquired all of the company’s stock and the Slazenger Golf brand.