MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY PARTS WITH MANAGER

MORRISSEY has parted company with his manager of five years Merck Mercuriadis, it has emerged.

Showbiz Spy reports that the former SMITHS frontman chose to sever ties with his long time associate in order to take up a new contract with ie: music - a management firm which counts ROBBIE WILLIAMS among its clients.

However, Mercuriadis says he is not bitter about the split, saying the decision will actually mean he can have some time off.

"Over the last five years, Morrissey and I have had three albums which entered the charts at five, two and one, and had ten top 20 singles and sold hundreds of gigs all over the world from Earl's Court (London) to the Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles)," he said.

"I believe my penance is complete and Saint Morrissey has granted my absolution."

MORRISSEY recently covered DAVID BOWIE'S Drive In Saturday for the B-side of his new single All You Need Is Me.