(Bloomberg) -- The future of of Squawka Ltd., a favorite source of news and statistics among soccer fans, is in peril after staff were told not to come in for work on Friday, according to people familiar with the matter.
The London-based website's workforce of about 35 people was informed Thursday that operations would cease and the company is in talks with administrators, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing a private matter. Co-founder Leo Harrison said on Twitter that he remains hopeful Squawka can keep going.
“Still a real possibility the company will continue,” Harrison wrote. “There is a live deal on the table.”'
A number of Squawka's almost 850,000 Twitter followers, including current and former staff, expressed their disappointment at the development, reported earlier by International Business Times.
Squawka, founded in 2012, had about 1.3 million pounds ($1.7 million) in assets as of Dec. 31, according to its latest filing with Companies House. FremantleMedia, part of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, took a 35 percent stake in April 2016.
Fremantle and Bertelsmann didn't respond to requests for comment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Joe Easton in London at jeaston7@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Adveith Nair at anair29@bloomberg.net, Anthony Palazzo, Rob Golum
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