100 staff to go after JJB chain collapses
More than 100 jobs were lost and five Midland stores closed as JJB Sports collapsed into administration despite efforts to restructure the retail chain.
Branches in Stafford, Walsall and the Merry Hill Centre were among 133 nationwide that were shut down yesterday.
Twenty have been bought by rival Sports Direct, including Oldbury, where 22 are employed and West Bromwich, which has 18 workers.
In total, 2,060 staff have been made redundant, including 15 at the branch in the Guildhall Shopping Centr, in Stafford, 15 in Walsall and 17 at Merry Hill. Another 19 have gone at Birmingham and 15 at Tamworth.
John Lamb, of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said today: "Any loss of jobs is to be regretted and most companies are fighting long and hard to avoid it.
"It is a very difficult time and we can only hope the people who have lost their jobs will find alternative employment."
Sports Direct has saved 550 jobs including those at the JJB warehouse. It has also bought the JJB website.
KPMG partners Brian Green, David Costley-Wood and Richard Fleming were appointed administrators before Sports Direct bought the JJB assets for £23.7 million, with up to a further £250,000 payment due.
