DOUBLE BLOW FOR TYCOON

MEANWHILE, Mike Ashley suffered a double blow yesterday amid turmoil at two of the companies he backs.

Five-a-side football pitch operator Goals Soccer Centres suspended its shares after it uncovered unpaid VAT bills of at least £12m.

Ashley has a near-19pc stake in Goals through Sports Direct.

At the same time, online retailer Findel urged shareholders to reject Ashley’s £140m takeover bid for the business.

Sports Direct, which has a 37pc stake in Findel, offered 161p per share for the company but chairman Ian Burke insisted there was ‘no compelling reason’ to support it.

He added: ‘The board believes Sports Direct’s offer is highly opportunistic and significantly undervalues the group and its prospects.’