Court filings in Delaware have revealed the extent of the meltdown at SCO, as the company appeals for funds to hire new employees for its accounts department after a staff exodus.

SCO Group has already filed for bankruptcy protection but the extent of the staff exodus has only just been revealed. The company is trying to hire new accounts staff and has asked the courts for $20,000 to fund the recruitment drive.

"Despite the Debtors' relatively minor employee turnover in the 10 years preceding the petition date upon, or shortly after, the filing of the bankruptcy petitions, approximately half of the accounting personnel resigned or were terminated, including two accounting personnel each with over 10 years' experience," reads the Delaware Bankrupcy Court filing (PDF).

"In addition, the Debtors anticipate that additional employees will resign or be terminated.

"As a result, the Debtors' accounting and finance department needs to hire, if not on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, at least three accounting personnel to assist the Debtors' accounting needs for their fiscal year ending October 31 2007, and perhaps for a period of time thereafter."

SCO has admitted that the wave of departures will demoralise those staff who stay, and that the company will be unable to compensate them for their additional workloads owing to bankruptcy rules.

The court in Delaware has granted SCO's petition (PDF) and told it to employ staff on an "as needed" basis.