Sports retailer and gym group DW Sports has said it is to go into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk.
The company is expected to appoint insolvency specialists on Monday after its income was wiped out by the lengthy closure of stores and gyms during the coronavirus lockdown.
The firm, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, ran 73 gyms and 75 shops across the UK but announced plans to shut 25 of its outlets last month.
DW Sports said it will now wind down its retail business for good, with its website ceasing trading immediately and closing-down sales starting at its 50 remaining stores.
It stressed that its sister company, Fitness First, will continue to operate as a separate firm and its 43 clubs will be unaffected by the administration.
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The administrators intend to support employees, customers and gym members as far as possible while they look to secure a buyer or buyers for some or all of the DW Sports portfolio.
Currently, 59 of its gyms have reopened in England and Northern Ireland, with a further 14 sites in England, Scotland and Wales unable to open due to government restrictions.
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Chief executive Martin Long said: "As a consequence of COVID-19, we found ourselves in a position where we were mandated by government to close down both our retail store portfolio and our gym chain in its entirety for a protracted period, leaving us with a high fixed-cost base and zero income.
"Like many other retail businesses, the consequences of this extremely challenging operating market have created inevitable profitability Read More – Source
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