Mike Ashley Rips Sports Direct's External Shareholders

Sports Direct majority Owner Mike Ashley accused the company’s external shareholders of having "stabbed Sports Direct and myself in the back by repeatedly hounding" former Chair Keith Hellawell, according to the FINANCIAL TIMES. Hellawell "abruptly stepped down" on Wednesday "less than an hour before the company's annual shareholder meeting." Ashley said in a stock exchange statement that since taking up the CEO role in '16, he had gone "above and beyond to enable a significant leap forward in order to rebuild the reputation" of the brand he founded. He said, "Despite significant challenges within the retail sector in the UK and beyond, which have resulted in many retailers failing, Sports Direct has continued to perform well and exceed market expectations" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 9/14).