JD Sports Fashion has suffered continued declining like-for-like sales but said trading is in line with expectations.

The sports fashion retailer said like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland were down 2.8% for the period from January 30 to June 4. Sports fascias fell 3% and fashion fascias were down 1.6% with margin deterioration within the range of its expectations.

JD said the period is harder to interpret in terms of underlying trading trends as the period coincides with the run up to the World Cup 2010.

JD said elsewhere the group is making satisfactory progress and is well positioned to exploit its financial strength to take advantage of any strategic opportunities which may arise.