Axed Louis Walsh lambasts 'outdated' Cowell

Today the Irish music mogul unleashed an unprecedented attack on his former colleague, accusing him of being a pompous egomaniac with no musical integrity, taste or genuine feelings for contestants.

Despite their close business relationship managing some of the winners of the popular TV series, Walsh hit out at 'Mr Nasty', saying his music tastes were "outdated" and claiming that Cowell, 47, owed his success to the people around him with better musical judgements.

He said: "It's all me, me, me - that's the way he is on and off the show.

"Sometimes I think that he is so arrogant and pompous. He is so argumentative, but he doesn't have any musical integrity.

"He is outdated in his musical tastes and the things he likes.

"He likes big ballads which are very outdated.

"But he has good people around him and they are responsible for directing his musical decisions."

It emerged yesterday that the pop svengali had been sacked from the programme along with presenter Kate Thornton, to "freshen up" the format of the hit ITV1 show.

But the 54-year-old who has spent three years as an X-factor judge said he was stunned when he was told by ITV bosses, rather than Cowell who owns the rights to the show which has made him millions.

He added: "It was ITV not Simon who told me. I was over with him in LA and I knew he'd called a meeting so I knew that there would be changes to the show. I thought it was about the presenter and a fourth judge.

"I was very shocked when I heard. He has sidelined me."

Walsh, who manages boyband Westlife - the most famous act on Cowell's Syco label - said that he and fellow judge, Sharon Osbourne were the only ones who genuinely cared about contestants.

Accusing Cowell of being obsessed about winning, Walsh said: "We all get competitive. We all have egos, especially Simon. He gets very competitive.

"He does snipe, that's his job. That's what he is best at doing- being Mr Nasty.

"Sharon and I tend to get attached to contestants, Simon never did. We wanted to help them achieve their dreams, but Simon just wants to win and he wants to be number one."

Walsh now plans to disappear from in front of the cameras to concentrate on managing his bands and he is preparing to release several albums over Christmas from Westlife and Shayne Ward.

Tonight he appeared for the last time on TV for a show with comedian, Al Murray.

He added: "You will see my bands, but you won't be seeing me for a while, which I think is a good thing. I will have a much better quality of life.

"I am genuinely relieved. When I heard, I thought I don't want to do TV.

"I am a band manager that's what I am good at. I loved doing the show. It was fantastic and I don't regret a moment of it.

"But I am going to go on more holidays now."