They bid their millions of fans a fond farewell with a sell-out tour last year, but almost 12 months later Westlife’s Nicky Byrne has spilled the beans on the real reason the hugely successful band called it a day.

Speaking to The Herald, Dubliner Nicky said that he and his bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily decided the time was right to step down when young popstars One Direction looked to be hot on their heels as reigning boyband to beat.

"There's a time when every band looks in the mirror and realises it's time to pack it in. That time for Westlife came when we saw One Direction come on the scene," Nicky Byrne told the Herald.

He added; "Like a boxer, we had 10 big fights in our career against other pop bands. Whether it was Steps, JLS, Blue or B*witched and we saw them all off. In fact, at the end Westlife were black and blue from our scraps with other bands. But like a boxer, you eventually end up in a fight you can't win. And if we had taken on One Direction, we would have ended up in the grave."

The honest admission from Dubliner Nicky comes as he eyes up a career in television and radio presenting. This past week he filled in on national station 2fm and won rave reviews for his natural and easy style. Nicky has also spoken about being happier to spend more time at home, especially now that his wife Georgina is pregnant with the couple’s third child.