Sports retailer JD Sports reported a 22 per cent rise in profits for the last year and said it continued to see scope to expand its chain of stores.

Pre-tax profits for the year to March 31 rose to £20.1 million, helped by better margins, while turnover rose 20 per cent to £245.6 million.

But chairman John Wardle said the World Cup had only a small effect on sales.

The group, which has a branch in Brighton, sells only a small amount of replica kit, accounting for 0.25 per cent of total turnover, and shirts sold out prior to the start of the tournament.

Mr Wardle said: "I've enjoyed it on TV but as far as the business is concerned, we are a fashion retailer and the replica side of things is very small. That had an influence but not anything of any significance."

The World Cup did have a balancing sort of influence, he said.

The group had lost trade last Saturday when people stayed in to watch England's match against Denmark.

Like-for-like sales, stripping out the impact of store openings and closures, rose 3.1 per cent in the year and 3.2 per cent since the year-end.

To drive sales further, the group said it continued to see a significant expansion opportunity and its current 166 stores could be increased to around 300 to 350.

Last month's £53.2 million acquisition of the First Sport, Active Venture and Pure Woman brands from Blacks Leisure, gave the group a 209 further stores.

This means the total estate could be brought up to more than 500 stores.

JD Sports said integration of the new chain was progressing well and proceeding to plan.