Cowell wanted to keep Paula Abdul

Birmingham Star (IANS) Thursday 9th February, 2012

Music mogul Simon Cowell has admitted he didn't want singer Paula Abdul to be fired from "The X Factor" and added that pop star Mariah Carey is not likely to become the new judge.

"I would've liked to have kept Paula. She was very gracious and I said that to her. She understands it's business; it's never personal," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Cowell as saying.

With Nicole Scherzinger and show host Steve Jones also fired from "The X Factor", only record company boss L.A. Reid has kept his job as a judge alongside Cowell. He says they kept him because there is no one who could do better.

"There's not a record executive out there who is as good as him for the job," Cowell added.

Commenting upon Carey joining the judges panel, he said: "You have to work five days a week and all the travelling, so she will not be on the list. I adore her, love her, but you can't expect someone who has just had two kids, has a record career to make the kind of commitment we would need on this show."