Sports Direct the UK based sports retailer has reached agreement to purchase the remaining majority share it does not yet own in Heatons.
27 of the 44 Heatons stores around the country already have a dedicated sports section, trading under the SportsWorld brand and it is expected that this number will be expanded.
Heatons and Sportsworld have a strong relationship to Irish sport through being community partners of the FAI and sponsors of the popular FAI summer soccer schools.
Sports Direct is owned by UK businessman Mike Ashley who is also the majority owner of Newcastle United in the Premiership and holds a minority stake in Glasgow Rangers.
Sports Direct were bidders for the Elverys chain of sports stores here when that company went into examinership in 2014 but was unsuccessful with a management team led by CEO Patrick Rowland winning out in the end.
The sports retail market would appear to be in good health in recent years with the parent company of Sportsworld showing a pre tax profit in latest accounts of €10 million on €219 million in revenue.
A statement from the company yesterday said that their would be continued investment in growing the SportsWorld and Heaton brands across the country.
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