American Idol’s Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest hope co-starPaula Abdul will return to the television talent competition, despite a recent public statement from her manager declaring it “unlikely” that the quirky showbiz vet will take her place at the judge’s table when the show kicks off its ninth season on FOX next January.

Auditions for the new season are currently underway, but Paula has yet to ink a new deal with Idol.
On Friday, her manager David Sonenberg revealed that said FOX has not put a contract on the table for Paula — a snub that has left the sensitive star devastated.

“I find under these circumstance particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful. I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do,” he said.

Normally sharp-tongued judge Simon is a bit more optimistic.

“She’ll be fine. She’ll be on the show. I don’t get a lot of say. I’ve just made it clear that I want Paula on the show. Full stop,” he told Extra on Monday.

Host Ryan Seacrest also expressed similar thoughts, saying, “I think as far as I know you’ll see everybody back. I hope so.”