Shares in JJB Sports fell 14% after it warned that its six-month profits will be about 30% lower than it expected. It now forecasts pre-tax profits of approximately �8m in the six months to 29 July, down from the �11.5m it had previously expected.
JJB blames a 6.2% fall in revenues at its stores, with a particularly sharp drop in sales of replica kits.
The retailer points out that the 2006 figures were exceptionally high because of last summer's football World Cup.
Excluding replica kits, store revenues fell by 1.3% in the half-year when compared with the same period of 2006.
The exact figures will be published on 28 September, JJB says.
JJB Sports shares closed down 14% or 28.5 pence at 172.25p.
JJB was one of 10 companies found guilty in 2003 of fixing the price of Manchester United and England shirts.
The company was fined �6.3m and earlier this year offered a free England shirt and mug to customers who had bought either of the kits named in the ruling by the Office of Fair Trading.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?