City JJB Sports closes (From Worcester News)

Worcester's JJB Sports closes

4:39pm Monday 1st October 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

JJB Sports in Worcester has closed, following the news that 133 stores would be closed today after administrators KPMG were called in.

A total of 20 stores were sold to Sports Direct International but the Worcester store, in Cathedral Plaza, was closed today resulting in the loss of 18 jobs.

Approximately 2,200 employees have been made redundant, while a total of 167 employees have been retained to assist the administrators.

Richard Fleming, UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, said: “Successive attempts to restructure the business, both financially and operationally, have not been enough to prevent the company falling into administration.

“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.”