THE Bolton-born head of sports chain JD sports has said the impact of Brexit has been "considerably worse" than feared as the sports chain plans to build a warehouse in the EU ­— which could have been built in the UK.

The scandals surrounding Boris Johnson hide the disaster that Brexit has created.

Retailer JD Sports is to open a 65,000 sq ft warehouse near Dublin to tackle post-Brexit trading problems.

The boss of one of Britain's big retailers says Brexit has turned out to be "considerably worse" than he feared.

JD Sports Chairman Peter Cowgill said bureaucracy, red tape and delays in shipping goods to mainland Europe has meant the business is losing millions of pounds.

Peter Cowgill, executive chairman, said disruption in shipping goods to mainland Europe meant costs in the ‘double digit millions’.

"We have been able to reduce our exposure to the adverse consequences of Brexit by opening an 80,000 sqft warehouse in Belgium in Autumn 2020 which is fulfilling a large proportion of our core ranges and fastest moving lines required for stores in Mainland Europe."

Jobs at JD Sports distribution centre in Rochdale could be under threat because of Brexit has turned out to be “considerably worse” than feared according to its Chairman Peter Cowgill.