MIKE Ashley’s Sports Direct has been chastised by the Church of England over the treatment of factory workers and governance failings at the retailer, it can be revealed.

The Church Commissioners – which manage the Church’s £7.9bn investment fund – criticised the sportswear giant amid a string of controversies at the high street chain, the Press Association understands.

In a series of letters delivered to the company, the Church is thought to have touched on issues including executive pay and working conditions at the retailer. The correspondence came at a time when Sports Direct was dealing with serious operational, governance and risk oversight problems.

These included what unions described as “Victorian” working conditions at the high street chain’s Shirebrook factory in Derbyshire, and the retention of Keith Hellawell as chairman against the wishes of key shareholders.

The retailer also admitted to paying warehouse workers below the national minimum wage in 2016.

Mr Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United, was hauled before MPs to answer questions on the controversies.

The Church’s investment arm, which has a minority holding in Sports Direct, made its disapproval clear at the group’s AGM, voting against the re-election of both chairman Mr Hellawell and chief executive Mr Ashley in 2017, as well as the head of the remuneration committee and remuneration report.

The Church of England declined to comment.

It is understood that the Church still holds its stake in the business but continues to engage over key areas of concern.

The Church Investors Group has also warned recently that it will toughen its stance regarding the lack of women on company boards. There are no women on the board of Sports Direct.

A spokesman for Sports Direct said: “The board received backing from a majority of independent shareholders at the AGM in September 2017, at which many of these historic issues were addressed.

“We note that under its 2018 voting policy the Church will not back members of nomination committees where less than 25 per cent of the board are women.

“We recognise the value and need for female representation on the board, and we are taking steps to address this.”