Mike Ashley: 'Sports Direct may have outgrown me'

Newcastle United's Mike Ashley admitted his Sport Direct company may have outgrown him as he faced a Business Select Committee today (June 7).

Mr Ashley spoke for around two hours on a wide-range of subjects after initially refusing to meet the committee, chaired by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.

Mr Ashley, wearing a Newcastle United tie, faced questions over working practices at its flagship warehouse, in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, including the use of zero-hour contracts.

And he admitted he '100%' wanted to buy BHS, which failed to find a buyer putting 550 employees at risk across its 11 North East stores.

Mr Ashley said 'I'm not a saint, but you could have made a success of that business.'

Despite an initial stand-off with the committee, the normally media-shy Mr Ashley was candid in his answers, admitting he had gone against his advisers who, he said, would otherwise have told him to say no comment.

Mr Ashley admitted he paid workers below the minimum wage, also telling MPs that he has discovered 'issues' with working practices at the retailer as part of an internal review.

He also said the company may have outgrown him, likening it to an 'oil tanker.'

Earlier in the hearing, Unite representatives said conditions at the Shirebrook warehouse was like a 'labour camp' with a culture of fear.

They criticised a six-strike policy, which they told the committee sees workers reprimanded for 'excessive chatting' or spending too long in the toilet.

But he defended it saying it works if executed properly.

Responding to concerns over health and safety, Mr Ashley said it was excessive that 110 ambulances were called to the warehouse between January 1 2013 and April 19 this year.

MPs are investigating working practices at Sports Direct's Shirebrook warehouse, including poor working conditions, security staff searching employees, the use of controversial zero-hours contracts and paying less than the minimum wage.