Sports Direct said on Thursday that it had disposed of the 4.6 percent stake in the country's No. 2 department store it had bought on Monday and replaced it with a put option over a 6.6 percent stake.

The sporting goods retailer also reiterated its intention to be a supportive shareholder in Debenhams.

"Sports Direct wishes to explore options at an operational level to work together with Debenhams and is looking forward to meeting with Debenhams' senior management team in the near future," the company said in its statement.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton)

Stocks treated in this article : Debenhams Plc, Sports Direct International Plc