Directors of sports retail chain JJB Sports have paid tribute to former Grattan boss and Morrisons deputy chairman Sir David Jones for his role in ensuring the firm’s survival following his decision to leave the company.

Sir David, 67, who lives in Ilkley, has stood down as as a non-executive director of the firm, which he joined in 2007 for health reasons.

He has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for a number of years..

The veteran retailer became executive chairman last year to spearhead a fight for survival and stood down as chairman in January but remained on the board.

In statement JJB’s board said: “Sir David played a crucial role as executive chairman during 2009 at a time when the company was close to administration, leading the company through a succession of transactions and initiatives to secure its survival and to create a platform for growth.

“The board places on record its enormous thanks to Sir David for everything he has achieved with the company.”

JJB’s new chief executive, Keith Jones, who joined from Dixons Stores Group five months ago, told the company’s annual meeting the retailer continued to progress.

Like-for-like sales in the six weeks to July 4, which included the World Cup, were up 22.3 per cent on the the previous year, and that gross margins had increased by 54.5 per cent.

He said that sales in for the year to July 4 were 12.1 per cent higher.