AMERICAN IDOL - CLARKSON DUMPS MANAGER FULLER

AMERICAN IDOL's first winner KELLY CLARKSON has ditched British music mogul SIMON FULLER as her manager, claiming he was never really there for her.

The MISS INDEPENDENT singer was picked up by Fuller's 19 Management company upon winning the Idol crown, but now the pair have amicably parted company.

Clarkson says, "(It was) an arranged marriage. He (Fuller) was literally in Timbuktu all the time. I need somebody there for me on a day-to-day basis."

Fuller, the one-time SPICE GIRLS manager and the man behind TV talent shows American and Pop Idol, admits he's sorry to see Clarkson go, but he wishes her well.

He says, "Kelly is an amazing girl who has deservedly enjoyed enormous commercial success."