Empire owner Silverstar Holdings has finally broken its silence on the company’s collapse, with an email circulated to staff in the past few hours confirming that administrators will be appointed soon.

The internal memo, acquired by MCV, attempts to downplay the story we broke on Friday that the company was on the brink, but ultimately confirms that the Britsoft publisher will soon be in administration, with all staff made redundant.

It reads: “It has been widely reported online that we have entered administration – this has not yet occurred. However it is highly likely that administrators will be appointed in the next few days.

“It is also likely that administrators will move to make all the staff redundant. I anticipate that formal redundancy notices will be sent out to all staff upon appointment of the administrators. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the unfortunate reality of our current situation.”

The communication came from Silverstar Holdings boss Clive Kabatznik – the firm had tried to quell the chatter of Empire’s descent last week telling some outlets that no decision had yet been made.

The news has of course not pleased those employees which stayed with the company for the last two months without pay with the promise that an acquisition was imminent to save the firm – and is further soured by the fact that many of the 70 staff employed by Empire were confident that in the past 12 months they had turned the company around.

“This latest memo is the usual bullshit from Empire – their treatment of the staff, and the way they have rewarded our loyalty by totally mismanaging the business is truly shocking and disappointing,” said one Empire employee who contacted MCV but wished to remain anonymous.

More on this story, including further reactions from Empire employees, will be posted soon.