THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE held a meeting with staff today to inform them that a receiver has been appointed to the business.

Sports writer for the weekly newspaper Malachy Clerkin confirmed the news this afternoon, tweeting:

Sunday Tribune has gone into receivership. We’re not closed yet so no need for premature obituaries. Hope lives.

Fellow staff writer Una Mullally also tweeted:

A receiver has been appointed to the Sunday Tribune. We’re still here. In the office at the mo. Chins up.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime radio programme this afternoon, editor Noirin Hegarty said that the receiver appointed would confirm within 24 hours whether it will be possible to publish the newspaper this Sunday.

Hegarty said that Independent News & Media support would ensure that all staff salaries would be honoured for the month of February.

“The economic climate has changed,the world is different,” she said, adding: “Many British titles have deep pockets that we just don’t have.”

Meanwhile, Waterstone’s has confirmed that it will close two of its Dublin stores in the coming days. Fiona Allen, head of communications for the book specialist, told TheJournal.ie that both the Dawson Street and Jervis Centre stores would close on Sunday 6 February.

A total of 46 staff will be affected by the closures, however Allen said that Waterstone’s has entered into “consultation” with staff with the hopes of deploying some to other stores.

There are no such changes planned for other Waterstone’s stores across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The iconic Hodges Figgis Dublin bookshop, which is also owned by the group, will not be affected.