// DW Sports appoints Graham Newton and Ryan Grant from BDO to handle administration
// The company was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan
Sports retailer and gym group DW Sports has confirmed it has filed for administration, placing over 1700 employees at risk.
The company has appointed Graham Newton and Ryan Grant from BDO as joint administrators.
DW Sports, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, operates 73 gyms and 75 retail sites across the UK but announced plans to shut 25 of its stores last month.
READ MORE: 1700 jobs at risk as DW Sports lurches towards administration
The administration has placed 1704 roles across the business are at risk of redundancy, although BDO said they would be working towards saving as many jobs as possible through a possible sale of the business.
Trading through the DW Sports website has also ceased with immediate effect, and its bricks-and-mortar retail arm will be wound down for good.
Closing-down sales have commenced across DW Sports’ stores, with discounts being applied across all product lines.
Fitness First, the sister company of DW Sports, will continue to operate as a separate company and its 43 clubs will be unaffected by the administration.
Since lockdown restrictions were eased in England and Northern Ireland, 59 gym sites have reopened, with the remaining 14 gym sites in England, Wales and Scotland to reopen “where possible”.
“The well-publicised challenges for the retail and leisure sectors from the impact of Covid-19 have significantly affected DW Sports’ business,” Newton said.
“However, we are continuing to trade while we explore the sale of as much of DW Sports’ business as possible,” he said.
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