Sports Direct is reportedly preparing to close a third of USC stores, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. The company's directors filed a notice of intention to appoint receivers to USC at the High Court on January 6 meaning stores could close as early as next week. A formal notice of intention usually gives a company 10 days before it has to declare insolvency.

The company is believed to have 90 USC stores, with over 1,000 employees. Staff at USC's warehouse in Dundonald, Ayrshire, were made redundant on January 7. It employs about 100 workers.