The surprising reason why the Spice Girls' former manager Chris Herbert says being sacked by the girl group actually HELPED his career
Chris Herbert credits himself for being the brains behind the Spice Girls, as he was the one to put them together back in the 90s.
But the UK talent manager was forced to watch the iconic girlband go on to reach global success from afar, as the group sacked him just before they hit the big time.
Appearing on The Morning Show on Friday, Chris insisted that he doesn't hold any resentment, as being axed by the five-piece was actually the making of his career.
![Blessing in disguise? The Spice Girls' former manager Chris Herbert insists he doesn't hold any resentment towards the girl after they axed him just before they hit the big time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/02/14175370-7089197-image-a-46_1559264695573.jpg)
Blessing in disguise? The Spice Girls' former manager Chris Herbert insists he doesn't hold any resentment towards the girl after they axed him just before they hit the big time
Chris had whittled the Spice Girls down from thousands of girls auditioning to its final five; Mel C, Mel B, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner (nee Halliwell) and Victoria Beckham.
He recalled how he spent a year developing and refining the girls into a strong live act, before showcasing them in front of industry executives.
Herbert claims that's when the cracks started to show and the girls decided to axe him as their manager, later signing up Simon Fuller to take his place.
!['It opened up doors': The talent manager credits himself for being the brains behind the Spice Girls, as he had been the one to put them together back in the 90s - he says his sacking was actually the making of his career](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/03/14175432-7089197-_It_opened_up_doors_The_talent_manager_credits_himself_for_being-a-14_1559269453539.jpg)
'It opened up doors': The talent manager credits himself for being the brains behind the Spice Girls, as he had been the one to put them together back in the 90s - he says his sacking was actually the making of his career
'Things weren't maybe moving as fast as the girls wanted,' Chris explained.
'They got in front of [writers and producers] and maybe things were said that enticed them to move on... sadly that happened.'
But instead of things turning sour between himself and the Spice Girls, Chris insisted he holds no resentment towards them, as being axed actually benefited his career.
![Last laugh: Chris was then approached by Simon Cowell to put together boyband 5ive and went on to sell 12 million albums worldwide - before managing Boyzone's Stephen Gately and UK pop band Hear'Say](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/02/14175374-7089197-image-a-45_1559264692547.jpg)
Last laugh: Chris was then approached by Simon Cowell to put together boyband 5ive and went on to sell 12 million albums worldwide - before managing Boyzone's Stephen Gately and UK pop band Hear'Say
![Hard work: Chris recalled how he spent a year developing and refining the Spice Girls into a strong live act, before showcasing them in front of industry executives - Pictured: Victoria Beckham, Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel C and Mel B](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/03/14175380-7089197-Hard_work_Chris_recalled_how_he_spent_a_year_developing_and_refi-a-15_1559269453789.jpg)
Hard work: Chris recalled how he spent a year developing and refining the Spice Girls into a strong live act, before showcasing them in front of industry executives - Pictured: Victoria Beckham, Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel C and Mel B
'It opened up every door in the industry,' he said. 'I started to work with Simon Cowell and put a boyband together called 5ive.'
Chris explained how Cowell reached out to him, as he too was 'feeling sore' after losing out on signing the Spice Girls to rival record label, Virgin.
'[5ive] sold 12million albums around the world - I went from success to success from then on, it was good for my career,' Chris claimed.
Herbert went on to manage not only 5ive, but B*Witched, Boyzone star Stephen Gately and British group Hear'Say who won UK talent show Popstars in 2001.
![Axing: The five-piece sacked Chris after he introduced them to industry execs and later signed up manager Simon Fuller instead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/03/14175382-7089197-Axing_The_five_piece_sacked_Chris_after_he_introduced_them_to_in-a-16_1559269453823.jpg)
Axing: The five-piece sacked Chris after he introduced them to industry execs and later signed up manager Simon Fuller instead
'I was a young manager, I was 22 then,' Chris said of his Spice Girls sacking.
'That was my first outing and fortunately for me I put together one of the most famous girlbands in the world.'
His interview came as the Spice Girls kicked off their reunion tour across the UK and Ireland last week without Victoria, who chose not to take part to focus on her fashion brand, after making a name for herself as a respected fashion designer.
Chris said he 'wasn't surprised' and 'understands' Victoria's decision, admitting: 'I would have loved to have seen her up there, but I understand.'
'This reunion, seeing them still getting the attention they get - that was my creation,' he gushed. 'That makes me feel very, very proud.'
!['It makes me very proud': Herbert's interview came as the Spice Girls kicked off their reunion tour across the UK and Ireland last week without Victoria, who chose not to take part to focus on her fashion brand](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/31/02/14175402-7089197-image-a-51_1559264788201.jpg)
'It makes me very proud': Herbert's interview came as the Spice Girls kicked off their reunion tour across the UK and Ireland last week without Victoria, who chose not to take part to focus on her fashion brand
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