Mike Ashley, the maverick who changed face of UK sports retail

Newcastle United's owner Mike Ashley walks to his seat during their English Premier League match against Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool, northern England, September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Darren Staples

LONDON (Reuters) - Mike Ashley's Sports Direct empire began in 1982 on a quiet high street in southeast England, with the help of a 10,000 pound loan from his parents.

Thirty-two years on, the company dominates Britain's sports retail market and Ashley is a billionaire whose unconventional image and management style, and penchant for a quick deal, have earned him admirers, as well as critics, along the way.