Sports Direct offers free winter jackets to football fans if Newcastle beat West Ham

Retail group Sports Direct is offering football fans a free winter jacket if Newcastle defeat West Ham. The largest sports clothing chain in the UK is prepared to give away up to £2.4m worth of the jackets if the Magpies are victorious in the Barclays Premier League fixture.

The Everlast jackets are said to be worth £59.99 and can be obtained by liking the company's Facebook page and entering a promotional code after the match. Sports Director Mike Ashley is often seen at St James Park supporting Newcastle and decided to extend the giveaway after offering a similar deal on Tuesday 12 January.

On that occasion fans hopeful of picking up the free super-warm padded jackets were left disappointed when Steve McLaren's side drew with Manchester United 3-3. Sports Direct says that the offer is open to any members of the public regardless of the team they support.

Once the Facebook page has been liked, participants will be asked to register before receiving a voucher entitling them to the free coat available from the Sports Direct website while stocks last.

Despite the generous giveaway, the past 12 months have been difficult for Sports Direct with accusations of misleading consumers, poor pay and poor treatment of staff. In December Ashley announced that he will personally oversee a review of all agency workers' terms and conditions following criticism of employment practices at its warehouses.

The company was found to have implemented strict searches and surveillance against its temporary warehouse staff and was accused of effectively paying less than the minimum wage as a result of unpaid overtime. In January poor trading conditions meant that shares in Sports Direct tumbled over 8 per cent.

The company was also criticised for misleading the public with its shops stacked floor to ceiling with perceived discounted goods. It emerged that many items arrived from the warehouses they were made in with the discount stickers already attached.