Cowell 'hurt' by Cole fiasco

Simon Cowell is "hurt and disappointed" over Cheryl Cole's 'X Factor' departure.

The music mogul wishes US network Fox had understood why he pushed for his fellow British judge to join the panel on the new American show and doesn't feel the singer realised how hard he fought for her to remain with the programme before she was axed after just four auditions.

Simon's close friend Sinitta said: "Although people see Cheryl more as the injured party, Simon's hurt too. He's hurt that she hasn't appreciated or understood how hard he fought for her.

"He's hurt because he knows that he really stuck his neck out for her. As much as it's been a disappointment for her that it didn't work out, it's a disappointment for me too, because it reflects on his judgement and his ability to know what people out there want."

Sinitta claims Simon feels "helpless" over the situation at the moment but is hopeful it won't ruin his friendship with Cheryl.

She added: "He is definitely rattled, but I also know that he did his best and, for a man, there's nothing worse than feeling helpless.

"Feelings are running so high right now but I sincerely hope they can emerge from all this as friends."

Cheryl was axed from the US show after filming four auditions and then turned down a double-pay offer to return to the UK 'X Factor'.

She was then reportedly offered the Stateside job back but declined, and has been replaced on the panel by Nicole Scherzinger.

Cole is meanwhile said to have been annoyed Cowell didn't have the "guts" to tell her she had been sacked.

The 27-year-old is upset the music mogul had created a "circus" around the talent show and believes it is "shoddy" her dismissal was made public before there had been any official statement.

A source said: "Cheryl is very much her own person and she hated the circus that the 'X Factor' had become.

"She was annoyed that when the bad news came, Simon did not even have the guts to tell her himself and left it to another executive.

"But she was even more upset that the discussions over her contract became open season for everyone. It was shoddy to say the least."

Cheryl is also said to have hit out at 51-year-old Simon by claiming she is no one's "puppet" in text messages to her friends.

The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "After the reports surfaced at the weekend that Cowell wanted her back, her pals were clamouring to know what was going on.

"Her text response was short and brutal – that she was 'no one's puppet.' It said it all. And while not mentioning Cowell by name it was clear who she meant."

Meanwhile, Nicole – who was originally supposed to co-host the show with Welsh presenter Steve Jones - has confirmed she only found out she had replaced Cheryl as a judge when she read reports in the press.

She said: "I haven't said this yet, but I think it's official that I have been made a judge. It's an amazing opportunity.

"I'm kind of finding out along with everyone else. It's kind of crazy to read about it in the newspaper first."