BOSSES at JJB Sports said the decision to axe 800 jobs and close 72 sports stores was essential to secure the future of the company.

The announcement regarding the closures came on the back of annual results which revealed profits down 28per cent to £33.8million in the year to January 27.

The company has taken a £25million hit relating to the cost of closing the stores, which meant bottom-line profits fell 72per cent to £10.8million.

JJB, set up by former Blackburn Rovers fullback Dave Whelan, refused to give details of which stores would close, but union chiefs slammed its handling of the job losses.

Chariman of the Wigan-based company, Roger Lane-Smith, said the stores in question were unlikely to make any significant contribution to group profits.

He said: "We are taking significant action to improve the performance of JJB's retail stores. We also plan to continue to open more combined fitness clubs and superstores, which continue to deliver strong results.

"We believe the action we are taking represents a turning point for the company, which will benefit performance over the medium term."

Eddie Gaudie, GMB organiser responsible for members working at JJB Sports, said the plan to give between two weeks and 30 days notice to workers was too short.

He added: "GMB believes that the company has not been forthright with their employees during the consultation.

"We also believe that the consultation notice period should have been 90 days, not as little as the two weeks in some cases."

JJB has outlets in Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley and Chorley.