The Sunday Times reported earlier this month that Mike Ashley, the chief executive and majority shareholder of Sports Direct International (SDI), has lost a round in a legal fight with a former adviser, who claims he is owed £14 million (€16.7m-$17.9m) through a deal allegedly agreed in a pub. The dispute has arisen with Jeff Blue, a former investment banker who became strategic development director for SDI. He alleges that Ashley promised him £15 million if he could double SDI's share price in three years. When this happened, in 2014, Blue alleges that he received £1 million but Ashley reneged on the remaining £14 million. Ashley has described the discussion at the Horse and Groom as “banter,” on an occasion when “a considerable amount of alcohol” had been consumed, and he denied that he made any agreement. The Sunday Times reports that Ashley attempted to submit expert evidence that the share price had risen for a variety of reasons, but the judge decided it was too late and awarded costs of £38,000 to Blue. The case is set for trial on July.

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