A FOOTBALL tycoon is to hand out bonuses of around £43,000 each to more than 160 workers at Scots branches of his sportswear firm in a move that will triple many of their salaries.

Sports Direct, which was founded and is controlled by Newcastle United’s colourful owner Mike Ashley, will pay out the money to 2200 employees UK-wide, including at 29 stores north of the Border, where workers on average earn £20,000 a year.

The company announced the payouts after exceeding its underlying profit target by more than £5 million to just in excess of £200m. It says customers are bucking the gloom on the high street by continuing to buy clothing to keep fit.

Full-time workers with at least a year’s service who enrolled in the bonus scheme in 2009 will feel the benefit.

It comes just weeks after store staff at Scottish high street footwear chain Schuh shared in a £37m payout following a £125m takeover.

Sports Direct chief executive Dave Forsey said: “This has been an excellent year of growth for the group in what has been a challenging retail environment.

“Key to this growth has been the success of our employee bonus share scheme, which we introduced to focus the whole group on our ambitious growth targets.”

Mr Ashley, who has endured a troubled relationship with United’s fans after a succession of managerial dismissals, built up the company after leaving school at 16 starting with a chain of stores near London.

He was the 60th wealthiest person on The Sunday Times Rich List in 2009.

But many supporters have not forgiven his sacking of fans’ favourite Kevin Keegan and the decision not to retain another popular striker, Alan Shearer, as manager. He was also reportedly keen to offload the club for around £100m. Despite this, Mr Ashley is often seen in the crowd at games wearing his trademark United jersey.

Sports Direct, which also trades as Sports World, Field & Trek, Hargreaves Sports, Gilesports and Donnay International, has stores in a number of prime shopping locations in Scotland including Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, Union Street in Aberdeen and the St James Centre in Edinburgh.

The company generated underlying profits of £200.4m in the year to April 24.

It also owns sporting brands including Dunlop and Kangol, which also reported a 10% rise in revenues to £1.6 billion.

As a result of the profits targets being exceeded, the scheme will pay out shares currently worth an average £30,960 each. Combined with a payout for meeting the previous year’s target, their awards are now worth an average of £43,850.

Analyst Freddie George said: “The company will be a beneficiary of the keep-fit trends and forthcoming sporting events – the Olympics and the (European) Football Championships in 2012.”

Sports Direct last night could not confirm how many of its Scottish employees will benefit from the profit-based deal. Staff will not be able to start cashing in the shares for at least a year.

Last month, Schuh, started in Edinburgh in 1981, took staff by surprise after it confirmed employees would share in a windfall after it was taken over by US firm Genesco. The company said it was for their “hard work and dedication”.

The deal, one of the biggest corporate windfalls in Scottish history, safeguarded thousands of jobs as the new owners have promised the takeover will herald the start of a major expansion into Europe.

In total, Schuh announced payouts to 2310 staff at the headquarters and 59 stores, based on length of service.