LONDON (Dow Jones)--Sportswear retailer JJB Sports PLC (JJB.LN) Wednesday said its former chairman who steered it away from the brink of administration late last year has decided to retire as a director due to ill health. Sir David Jones's retirement is effective immediately, JJB Sports said in a statement following its annual general meeting, and follows his decision to step down as the company's chairman in January, which was also due to health reasons. In its statement, JJB said Sir David played a "crucial" role throughout 2009, when the company was close to administration, leading it through a succession of transactions and initiatives to secure its survival and create a platform for growth. JJB Chief Executive Keith Jones, who isn't related to Sir David, said the company continues to refine and develop its new "serious about sport" strategy and address the retail basics first. "I believe we have met all our objectives so far this year, and we are firmly focused on continuing to do so," he told shareholders at the company's AGM. -By Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9298; hannah.benjamin@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 28, 2010 06:24 ET (10:24 GMT)