Sports Direct rumoured to be sizing up bid offer for Findel's Kitbag

Sportswear retailer Sports Direct is rumoured to have its eye on Kitbag, the football strip retailer, which was put on the market by owner Findel at the beginning of the month.

Debt-laden Findel is likely to receive offers from Sports Direct's high street competitor JD Sports, according to speculators.

Kitbag, which in October revealed continued losses despite growth of 7%, sells replica football club shirts.

The news comes as Sports Direct, which is headed up by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, beat off criticism from Ed Miliband over its use of controversial zero-hour contracts.

Miliband has blasted the FTSE 100-listed company for what he called the "exploitation" of employees, saying it was a "terrible place to work".

The labour leader has promised to put an end to the contract type after his party said 85% of the group's UK workforce were employed on a zero-hours agreement.

A spokesman for the group responded by saying it was examining its core employment terms, but according to the BBC added: "With enemies like these, who needs friends?"