Sports Direct flotation an ‘unmitigated disaster’, says Ashley

Mike Ashley said the flotation of his company Sports Direct was an "Unmitigated disaster" and that he would rather have "Put needles in my eye" than meet with investment bankers in a pub. Mr Ashley denounced the banker, Jeff Blue, as a "Total liar" and said the lawsuit was an example of how, "Because I am successful, some people try to take advantage of me". Three bankers from Espirito Santo, a Portuguese bank that was hoping to be appointed as Sports Direct's broker, also testified that they did not believe that Mr Ashley struck a deal with Mr Blue. One of the men, Simon McEvoy, remembers Mr Ashley telling Mr Blue: "If they go to £8 a share I'll give you £10m myself." But he added: "Everyone started laughing . . . because it was obvious that [Mr Ashley] was joking." Mr Ashley accused Mr Blue of "Underhanded" behaviour after it emerged that the former banker had secretly taped a conversation the two men held a year after the alleged £8 target was met in February 2014.

Read the full story

 Related companies

Make a complaint about Sports Direct by viewing their customer service contacts.

•