Cowell wanted to keep Paula Abdul

London: Music mogul Simon Cowell has admitted he didn`t want singer Paula Abdul to be fired from `The X Factor` and added that pop star Mariah Carey is not likely to become the new judge.

"I would`ve liked to have kept Paula. She was very gracious and I said that to her. She understands it`s business; it`s never personal," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Cowell as saying. With Nicole Scherzinger and show host Steve Jones also fired from "The X Factor", only record company boss L.A. Reid has kept his job as a judge alongside Cowell. He says they kept him because there is no one who could do better. "There`s not a record executive out there who is as good as him for the job," Cowell added. Commenting upon Carey joining the judges panel, he said: "You have to work five days a week and all the travelling, so she will not be on the list. I adore her, love her, but you can`t expect someone who has just had two kids, has a record career to make the kind of commitment we would need on this show." IANS