Interim Management Statement

Sports Direct International Plc
13 March 2008

13th March 2008


         Sports Direct International plc ("the Group" or "the Company")

                          Interim Management Statement

Sports Direct International plc announces its Interim Management Statement
relating to the period from 29th October 2007 to 12th March 2008.

Trading Update

Total Group sales for the 13 weeks ending 27th January 2008 amounted to £317m
and the corresponding Group gross profit was £142m. 15 new stores were opened
and 13 small stores closed in the quarter. Since 27th January, trading has
remained in line with management's expectations.

After the Interim Results, market consensus expectations for underlying EBITDA
(pre foreign exchange and exceptional items) for the full year 2007/8 increased
to approximately £148m. The Board is confident of meeting this revised consensus
forecast.

Business Highlights

On 5th February 2008 the Company announced a strategic alliance agreement in
China with ITAT Group Limited ("ITAT") to supply merchandise under a selection
of Sports Direct's portfolio of brands to the larger ITAT stores. ITAT is the
largest network of multi-brand apparel retail chain stores in China, and
operates a network of over 700 stores in 275 cities across the country.
Management is pleased that the relationship with ITAT is developing well and the
planned roll out of brands to the stores is currently ahead of schedule.

On 18th December 2007 the Company sold its interest in Original Shoe Company
Limited, the branded clothing and footwear retailer, to JJB Sports plc for £5m
in cash.

An additional share-buy-back programme was approved at the EGM on 19th December
2007 to purchase 35,999,999 shares. The Company has since purchased those shares
at a total cost of £38.9m.

On 21st December 2007 the Company sold 29m of its shares in Umbro plc to Nike
for £56.1m, and agreed to vote its remaining 14.6m Umbro shares in favour of the
scheme of arrangement. The scheme of arrangement became effective on 3rd March
2008 and, as a result, the Company will shortly receive 193.06p per share in
respect of its outstanding shares.

During the quarter to 27th January 2008 the Group sold down its holding of
12.16% in Amer for £117.8m and this was announced to the market in early
November. On 23rd January 2008 the Group announced the acquisition of a 4.96%
stake in Amer for a consideration of £36m.

Group debt decreased from £795.9m at 28th October 2007 to £555.2m at 27th
January 2008. Taking into account the inclusion of marketable securities
(available for sale financial assets) the net debt at 27th January 2008 was
£396.2m, down from £431.4m at 28th October 2007.

A substantial proportion of the Group's imports are paid for in US dollars. The
impact of currency movements is managed through substantial holdings of currency
and the use of forward fixed-rate currency purchase contracts. At around $2 to
£1 the position (net of realised and unrealised gains and losses) is neutral.

Commenting on this statement, Dave Forsey, Chief Executive Officer of Sports
Direct International plc, said:

"Whilst the Company recognises the challenges in the retail market and across
the economy as a whole, we have a compelling customer proposition and a
resilient business model. We are confident of meeting current market
expectations and will continue to look for opportunities to grow organically,
via acquisitions and through partnerships on a global basis."


For further information, please contact:

Dave Forsey, Chief Executive                              T. 0870 333 9400
Bob Mellors, Group Finance Director
Sports Direct International plc

Jonathon Brill / Ben Foster / Andrew Dowler               T. 020 7831 3113
Financial Dynamics




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