Cheryl Cole's X Factor USA Sacking Was Set-Up Says Nicole Scherzinger's Manager

Cheryl Cole's X Factor USA sacking was all 'set-up' claims Nicole Scherzinger’s former manager.

Jeff Haddad has said that Nicole Scherzinger was always set to be a judge on the X Factor USA panel and that Cole was just hired and then sacked to cause extra publicity for the show.

''In my opinion, Simon Cowell always wanted Nicole as a judge. There was never a question that she wouldn’t get it. Nicole was always going to be on the judging panel. Cheryl was just being used as a cog in the wheel to cause hype and publicise the show," Haddad told The Mirror.

He added: "I had long discussions with Simon about her judging the US show and she was always a front-runner. Cheryl's name never came into it and Nicole was never supposed to be a host. Her hosting the show wasn’t even mentioned."

The Girls Aloud star was sacked from the programme earlier this reportedly amid concerns from US TV bosses over her Newcastle accent.

''Cheryl's accent never came into it – it was a cover-up excuse. Americans are used to all sorts of accents – it would have worked in her favour, if anything. Plus, she's a great girl and an accent wouldn't have been a factor in getting rid of her."

Simon Cowell is one of the other X Factor judges along with Paula Abdul and LA Reid. The programme is due to begin in August.

Cheryl Cole's X Factor USA Story