Simon Cowell has dropped Shayne Ward from his record label.

We first reported back in December 2010 that the music mogul was preparing to axe the former X Factor winner, after his new album failed to achieve decent sales figures.

The hunk shot to fame when he won the ITV singing show in 2005 and made his comeback on a live episode of last year’s series. However his single Gotta Be Somebody only reached number 12 in the UK charts and album Obsession peaked at number 15.

A music industry source told The Sun that Simon had to axe the star, as his music wasn’t selling well enough. They said:

“Shayne’s a nice lad and works hard but people just don’t seem to want to buy his music.

“He doesn’t fit into the categories of stuff kids buy. He’d be better off in a boyband.”

A Syco spokesman said: “After five very successful years and an international career which saw him sell over 3.2 million records, Shayne’s contract has come to an end.”

Matt Cardle is now the only male solo singer on Cowell’s SYCO label.