SPORTS DIRECT boss Mike Ashley appeared to undergo a Damascene conversion today, offering the NHS the use of his company’s fleet of lorries to deliver medicines and equipment.

Earlier this week, the notorious exploiter had instructed all Sports Direct retail staff to report for work and refused to close the stores, despite the government ordering all non-essential shops to cease trading.

Mr Ashley had also ordered all the firm’s warehouse staff to keep working to fulfil online orders for sports gear — and keep profits rolling in.

Following fierce criticism from MPs for claiming that Sports Direct was an “essential operator” for its supposed role in keeping the nation fit, Mr Ashley performed a U-turn and shut the stores.

The billionaire published an open letter to the government today apologising for his previous position.

He claimed: “Our intentions were only to seek clarity from the government as to whether we should keep some of our stores open; we would never have acted against their advice.

“To reiterate, I am deeply apologetic about the misunderstandings of the last few days. We will learn from this and will try not to make the same mistakes in the future.”

Mr Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United Football Club, said that, during the crisis, his staff were “working very hard to save our business.”

He thanked workers who are maintaining his profitable online business, including those processing orders at the giant Sports Direct distribution centre in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.