Concern surrounding a loan made to Sir David Jones, chairman of JJB Sports, by Mike Ashley, founder of rival Sports Direct, has kept the sportswear industry firmly in the spotlight and made for a lively JJB annual meeting on Friday.

But beneath claims and counterclaims lies a sector under strain, with the recession and online competition eating into sales. While the football World Cup next year and the 2012 Olympics might provide a short-term improvement, underlying problems remain in an industry where competitors are also suppliers and cross shareholdings are common.