Sports Direct have announced plans to focus on opening more larger stores, seeing some smaller branches potentially close.

The retailer shared their idea under its elevation strategy, seeing shops that are below 20,000 sq ft could be consolidated. 

It comes after the Retail Gazette shared that Sports Direct is instead looking to open more flagship stores in the UK.

However, the retailer did share that it would look into transferring affected staff to new flagship stores.

Speaking to the Gazette, Frasers Group managing director of Sport, Ger Wright said: "We will be closing the smaller stores. Anything between 10,000 sq ft and 20,000 sq ft will most likely go and then we’ll open a bigger store."

Wright also shared that the popular clothing brand USC will be coming to all Sports Direct stores in the near future going forward. 

Explaining the move, Wright said that the move is important to help them "do storytelling in the right way."

Adding smaller branches can make it hard to add new features, including their AstroTurf carpet that is being introduced to regional stores. 

The newest moves come as part of the retailer's elevation strategy created by CEO Michael Murray in a bid to transform Sports Directs customers' current experience.