Founder, Sports Direct

mike ashley16x9

As ever, Ashley has been unpredictable, controversial and successful in equal measure.

As his football team Newcastle United successfully bounced back into the Premier League, the fans may not have burnt quite so many effigies of the sporting tycoon - although many will still be angry at his commercial move to rename the St James’ Park grounds as sportsdirect.com@StJamesPark.

As JJB still struggles to regain its composure, Sports Direct are set to benefit the most from this summer’s World Cup, and have even spruced up their window

displays for the event.

Earlier this year, Ashley’s dominant position in the sector became clear once again when he used Sports Direct’s 29% stake in blacks” class=”intextlink”>Blacks Leisure to block their fundraising. A bid was made and then withdrawn as concerns were raised that key suppliers would refuse to supply an Ashley-owned Blacks.

With several inquiries still hanging over the chain, the future may not be all bright for Ashley, but the appointment of former police chief and ‘drugs tsar’ Keith Hellawell as its chairman will stand it in quite good stead for any fight in

the future.