Tycoon Ashley calls for Debenhams advisors to be jailed

Mike Ashley has called for those advising Debenhams to be “put in prison” following the news that the retailer had cleared a major hurdle in its refinancing plan.

Debenhams has secured the support of the majority of its bondholders to go ahead with a £200m refinancing plan – a deal which has scuppered Ashley’s plans to become the struggling retailer’s new boss.

In a statement this morning, Ashley, the chief executive of Shirebrook-based Sports Direct, said: “Now the results of the vote are known and we have also been subsequently advised that the supportive HSBC are no longer part of Debenhams RCF, I think that if there were any justice in the world the majority of the advisors would be put in prison.”

Earlier this week, Sports Direct announced it was considering making a £61.4m cash offer for Debenhams.

The deal would have seen Ashley step down as boss of Sports Direct and take up the chief executive role at Debenhams, in which he already owns an almost 30% share.

Sports Direct is also attempting to take over Manchester based retailer Findel Group in a £130m deal.