THE future of the Jack Wills store in Brighton has finally been revealed.

The High Street clothing brand has shut nearly a dozen shops across the UK just days after being rescued from its collapse.

The brand had slumped into administration earlier this month, putting its 100 UK stores at risk.

The collapse also put its six franchises at risk, including several in the Middle East, as well as 1,700 jobs.

But Sports Direct, owned by Newcastle United chairman and retail tycoon Mike Ashley, bought Jack Wills out of administration for £12.8million.

The takeover was Ashley’s latest acquisition, having taken over House of Fraser this time last year among a string of big name struggling retailers.

But it has now emerged Ashley has already closed eight Jack Wills stores since the takeover.

The stores that have closed are in Marlborough, Derby, Reigate, Rock, Tunbridge Wells, Durham, Kingston and St Albans.

The locations were in expensive towns and cities where rent costs were high.

That means for now, the chain in East Street is safe.

Sports Direct said it would endeavour to redeploy the staff affected elsewhere within Jack Wills.

It comes after it emerged Sports Direct is negotiating with Jack Wills’ landlords to accept rent-free tenancy agreements across some of its worst-performing stores.

Michael Murray, Sports Direct’s head of elevation, told the Financial Times recently that Jack Wills “had overextended itself”.

“They took super-prime locations where the sales just didn’t justify it,” he added.

“They need to focus on their roots as a lifestyle brand.”