SPORTS Direct employees could be in line for a share windfall of double their average salary after the retailer hit sales targets for a second year in a row.

Despite a tricky sales climate which has seen rival JJB Sports skirt close to administration in the last few months, Sports Direct’s underlying profits cleared £200m for the year to April 24, activating an employee share bonus for the second year running.

In clearing the £195m target, staff will receive shares worth an average of £40,960 each. Combined with the windfall for beating last year’s target, this means awards are now more than double the average staff salary of £20,000 at £43,850. Staff will have to wait at least a year before cashing the shares, whose price has gone from 110p a year ago to over 250p yesterday .

KMPG partner Nick Crumb said: “The figures are pretty stunning.

“It looks like the employee engagement has been a great success. I think the payout is the most generous of all the retailers.” Sports Direct has 15 stores in the region, and is controlled by billionaire Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley. Ashley ploughed his windfall from floating Sports Direct into his purchase of the Magpies in 2007, but has since aggressively bought back shares in the retailer to drive his stake up to 72%.

Chief executive Dave Forsey said the employee share scheme was “key” to the company’s results, but it had also benefited from “focusing on our core strengths, increasing efficiencies and controlling costs”.

Debt levels have been cut from £311.9m in April last year to £148m, while brand revenues rose by 1.5% and retail went up 11.9%. Group revenue hit a record £1,599m after a 10.2% rise.