Paula Abdul reluctant to return to American Idol 9

As Paula Abdul's American Idol counterparts continue to ink deals to return to the series for its upcoming ninth season, the judge's manager says his client will ditch the FOX show unless producers change their tune.

"Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on Idol," Abdul's manager, David Sonenberg, who has yet to receive a proposal for her return, told The Los Angeles Times.

The new season is set to premiere in January.

"I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful," he added of the holdup.

"I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that [Idol production companies Fremantle and 19 Entertainment] haven't stepped up and said what they want to do."