Louis Walsh has fanned the flames of his spat with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini by claiming she would refuse to be an X Factor judge if Nicole Scherzinger returned to the show.

The music manager also ruled Robbie Williams out from joining the show, having previously tipped the singer as his replacement, saying “he told me he can’t”.

Louis was embroiled in a war of words with Cheryl last week after he branded her “lazy” and “irrelevant”, to which she responded by claiming the 62-year-old had an “obsession” with her.

Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh has fanned his feud with Cheryl (PA Wire)

Louis told the Sun on Sunday: “Cheryl’s got a job. Why won’t she let Nicole be on the panel this year? Why won’t she allow Simon to have Nicole on the panel? There’s your f***ing story. That’s the truth.

“Because Nicole’s good. She won’t sign if Nicole signs.

Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Dermot O'Leary
Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Dermot O’Leary at the launch of the X Factor in 2012 (Ian West/PA Wire)

“I thought Nicole would be great to get back. I really do. If I was going to hire any female, it would be her. Sharon Osborne would be amazing too. She was brilliant. The year before was so fun. But Simon won’t hire her because he can’t control her.”

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi and One Direction’s Niall Horan were also among his favourites to replace him, Louis added.

Last week he told Heat magazine: “Cheryl wasn’t great last year, she’s sometimes lazy and lacks energy. She needs to give more, she can give so much more.

Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue
Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue at the 2008 National Television Awards

“She’s irrelevant these days. I know people say the same about me, but apart from anything, I am fun and I have a rapport with Simon.

“Personally, I’d rather have Mel B on the panel. I love her – but that’s not going to happen.”

The singer hit back on her Twitter feed:

X Factor supremo Simon Cowell said “there was always going to be a clash” between the pair.

Speaking last week, he said: “They’ve never liked each other, those two … (When Cheryl was in Girls Aloud) he was their manager. Now, Louis managing a girl band, disaster, he just doesn’t do it well.”