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Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has said he is "deeply apologetic" for a series of blunders in the way his chain has reacted to the coronavirus lockdown.
The retailer lobbied the government to keep his shops open, arguing they were an "essential service", but backed down after a backlash from staff and media.
Mr Ashley admitted his request was "ill judged and poorly timed" and said he would "learn from his mistakes".
The retail tycoon also offered to lend the NHS his delivery trucks.
In an open letter, Mr Ashley also admitted the firm's communications to staff and the public were "poor".
"I am deeply apologetic about the misunderstandings of the last few days. We will learn from this and will try not to make the same mistakes in the future," he said.
The letter marks a change in tone for the billionaire. Earlier this week, Sports Direct asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly on Twitter whether its stores should stay open.
Sports Direct had argued that it provided an essential service. Bosses at the company said the sports equipment it sells can be used to exercise at home at a time when gyms have been closed.
However, the chain's initial plan to stay open drew widespread backlash from both politicians and the public.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I can't see any justification for Sports Direct remaining open."
Mr Ashley, worth £1.9bn according to the Sunday Times Rich List, is one of the country's biggest owners of High Street retailers.
Through Frasers Group, he controls House of Fraser, Sports Direct, Evans Cycles, Lillywhites, Flannels, Agent Provocateur and he recently bought a 12.5% stake in luxury leather goods group Mulberry.
It is not the first time Mr Ashley had been criticised over the treatment of workers.
An investigation by The Guardian in 2015 revealed people working at Sports Direct's warehouse in Shirebrook,Derbyshire receiving less than the minimum wage because of rigorous searches and surveillance.
Meanwhile, the BBC discovered that ambulances were called out to the site 76 times in two years.
Frasers Group also owns Evans Cycles, which is regarded as an essential retailer. But it has currently closed all those stores too, pending review.
The retailer lobbied the government to keep his shops open, arguing they were an "essential service", but backed down after a backlash from staff and media.
Mr Ashley admitted his request was "ill judged and poorly timed" and said he would "learn from his mistakes".
The retail tycoon also offered to lend the NHS his delivery trucks.
In an open letter, Mr Ashley also admitted the firm's communications to staff and the public were "poor".
"I am deeply apologetic about the misunderstandings of the last few days. We will learn from this and will try not to make the same mistakes in the future," he said.
The letter marks a change in tone for the billionaire. Earlier this week, Sports Direct asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly on Twitter whether its stores should stay open.
Sports Direct had argued that it provided an essential service. Bosses at the company said the sports equipment it sells can be used to exercise at home at a time when gyms have been closed.
However, the chain's initial plan to stay open drew widespread backlash from both politicians and the public.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I can't see any justification for Sports Direct remaining open."
Mr Ashley, worth £1.9bn according to the Sunday Times Rich List, is one of the country's biggest owners of High Street retailers.
Through Frasers Group, he controls House of Fraser, Sports Direct, Evans Cycles, Lillywhites, Flannels, Agent Provocateur and he recently bought a 12.5% stake in luxury leather goods group Mulberry.
It is not the first time Mr Ashley had been criticised over the treatment of workers.
An investigation by The Guardian in 2015 revealed people working at Sports Direct's warehouse in Shirebrook,Derbyshire receiving less than the minimum wage because of rigorous searches and surveillance.
Meanwhile, the BBC discovered that ambulances were called out to the site 76 times in two years.
Frasers Group also owns Evans Cycles, which is regarded as an essential retailer. But it has currently closed all those stores too, pending review.
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Replies: 15
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Sorry Mike, but too many second chances for you, you are a scrotum of the highest order.
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Spot on Angoose.
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More likely that MA got a lesson in PR from his board, who rightly pointed out that his approach will be bad for future business.
It would be good if people in future stopped using the likes of Sports Direct, Wetherspoons, Virgin etc, in protest at the behaviour of their bosses in recent times, but we all know they won't. Ashley, Tim Martin & Branson could literally join the Nazi party and people would still use their products. |
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Think we all know Ashley is a prize money grabbing scumbag. Think people might just remember some companies, and people after this Danno. Extreme times.
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Ashely we always knew was a complete c**t,
Boring voice Martin and that Prick Branson have shown there true colours. Greedy scumbags, you'd never want to go into battle with those three selfish bas tards, and you can add Gordon foul mouth Ramsey, he's another selfish coward |
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And Jamie, last year saying its been a bad year for me, what about the staff he laid off, pour soul down to his last hundred million.
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He Donnay know what he is doing
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Jamie the Mockney
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I won’t buy anything from Sports Direct and I don’t do Wetherspoons. I have used Virgin Gyms and Airline in the past but am opposed to any tax payer bailout of Virgin Airlines. I would be happy for them to be nationalised at market rate should they go bust.
Virgin is a good company. I have no problem with them. I haven’t giot a huge problem with Tim Martin I just don’t like Wetherspoons but I do hope people support a boycott of Sports Direct. |
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virgin asking for handout now ?
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I once bought a pair of "walking shoes" from that company. It was only a few days later, when they started to fall apart, and cut my heels to shreds, that I realised my mistake. I should have been suspicious when "Karrimor" shoes were only about 25 quid, which seemed ridiculously cheap for what had once been a great brand. It was only then that I did some research and realised that they had been bought over and the quality had been hugely compromised. Apparently, Sports Direct have done this with other formerly reliable brands as well. You live and learn, as they say.
 That's as well as any moral considerations applicable to that rabble. |
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Not entirely sure Mackem
I think he bleated from Neckar a couple of weeks ago Here’s the thang. I think all airlines will retrench for some time to come. Not many will have the resources to continue. Our National Flag carrier was privatised and may need to be re-nationalised. There may not be room for two major airlines within the UK. The tax payer dollar is not required to save private share holders. I am sure they all agree on this too  .They deserve the furlough money for their employees in the short term |
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Sure I heard they were Looking for a Bail Out , D1ckie Main interest is getting his 1% friends into space ..
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virgin 1st to ask for 100,s of million pound,s bailout tonight,
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How much is he investing in that shyte in Mexico to get his Pals into Orbit ???
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