(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Cheryl Cole "never came" into discussions when Simon Cowell was choosing the US X Factor judging panel, it has been claimed.

The British star was sensationally axed from the role last month, shortly after she was appointed by music mogul Simon.

Cheryl was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who was initially brought in as the show's co-host alongside Welsh presenter Steve Jones.

The American songstress has joined Simon Paula Abdul and LA Reid on the judge's desk, and her ex-manager has now claimed the former Pussycat Doll was always wanted for the job.

Jeff Haddad insists Cheryl, 27, was just being used to hype the series and was never in the running to be a certified judge on the highly-anticipated show.

"Simon Cowell always wanted her as a judge. There was never a question that she wouldn't get it. I had long discussions with Simon about her judging the US show and she was always a front-runner for that job," he explained. "Cheryl's name never came into it. Cheryl was just being used as a cog in the wheel to cause hype and publicise the show. Nicole was never supposed to be a host."

Jeff negotiated Nicole's X Factor deal and managed the 32-year-old star for 13 years. The singer's former manager, who was dropped weeks before she signed her contract with the show, says Cheryl's sacking was never fully explained, and has rubbished claims that her accent couldn't be understood.

"I think Cheryl's accent never came into it - it was an excuse. Americans are used to all sorts of accents," he added in an in interview with Heat magazine.

An X Factor spokesperson dismissed the claims and says the comments are "complete and utter rubbish". (C) Cover Media