Goals Soccer Centres revives plans for more centres

The company is looking to open an unspecified number of new five-a-side centres, starting later this year

Goals Soccer Centres has announced plans for a "controlled rollout" of new centres, starting later this year.

The announcement came as the East Kilbride firm reported a 3% rise in sales for the year to the end of December.

Goals currently has 43 outdoor five-a-side centres in the UK and one in Los Angeles.

In 2012 it postponed plans to open more centres in order to focus on improving its cash position.

Between June and December 2012, it cut net debt from £54m to £46m.

In a stock market update on Wednesday, Goals said trading for the year was in line with market expectations, with overall sales increasing by 3% to £33.5m.

It also reported that its operation in the US had continued to perform strongly.

The trading statement added: "The Goals operating model is highly resilient, profitable and cash generative.

"The board believes that there is a significant opportunity to further develop the business by increasing brand awareness, through a greater use of digital technology and social media and by opening new centres.

"The development of our new app and website are well advanced and we expect to launch these during the second quarter of the year.

"Accordingly, subject to satisfactory prevailing economic conditions, the board intends to commence a controlled rollout of additional centres from later this year."