Sports Direct said that it's sticking to its full-year targets, despite a relatively subdued first half that saw underlying pre-tax profits slip by 1.7 per cent to £99m.
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Management at the sportswear retailer said that the figures were in line with expectations, and that the apparent slowdown was the result of a strong comparative performance a year earlier, driven by the soccer World Cup. Management added that, with a highly incentivised workforce, it was also "very confident" of hitting its £215m cash profits target. A new scheme has been introduced for employees, as a well as another that will see £12m paid to 71 per cent shareholder and executive deputy chairman Mike Ashley in 2018, should a series of "stretch targets" be met.