Mike Ashley weighing bid for JJB's sports clubs

LONDON (Reuters) - Mike Ashley, the founder of retailer Sports Direct International (SPD.L), is considering a bid for the fitness-clubs division of struggling rival JJB (JJB.L), The Sunday Times reported without citing sources.

Ashley is understood to have lodged his interest with Lazard, the investment bank handling the sale, which could raise 30-50 million pounds, the newspaper said.

Other parties said to be interested include David Whelan, JJB's founder, and Fitness First, the world's largest fitness-club operator, it said.

JJB's main lenders -- Kaupthing, Barclays (BARC.L) and HBOS HBOS.L -- agreed on Friday to extend a deal struck in December that allowed the struggling retailer to defer loan repayments.

Sports Direct was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle)