Boyzone 'should split'

Louis Walsh dumps band and tells them to call it a day...

09:48 13 June 2011

Boyzone's manager Louis Walsh has ditched the band and advised them to split up, according to reports.

It is thought that a number of factors are to blame for the move, including low ticket sales for their most recent Brother tour, which the band are currently mid-way through.

A source told the News of the World:

"Louis has told Boyzone they're finished. Ronan doesn't want to accept it but without Louis they have no chance.

"They kept a diehard fanbase but the Brother tour earlier this year wasn't a big success. Louis didn't bother seeing a single show.

"[They] just couldn't compete with the Take That comeback and lots of tickets weren't sold. So Louis decided it was the right time for the band to finish."

Ronan Keating's alleged affair with one of their dancers was also cited as a reason, with the source revealing:

"The affair changed everything for many fans. It destroyed the family-friendly image that made the band popular."

Louis, 58, formed the boy band in 1993 with Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy as Irish competition to Take That, who were achieving great success in the charts at the time.

They enjoyed considerable chart success with hit songs including Love Me For a Reason and No Matter What.

However, the band was rocked when, in 2009, Gately died while on holiday in Majorca.