Spice Girls confirm manager sacking

The band have been pursuing a solo career

The end of the Spice Girls could be in sight after two members of the group confirmed they had sacked their manager.

Melanie Brown and Victoria Beckham have stopped using the services of the Spice Girls management team, headed by Nancy Phillips, for their solo careers.

Although she was not the official manager of the band, Ms Phillips was called upon to give her expert advice when the Spice Girls decided to manage themselves.

The other two band members Mel C and Emma Bunton are sticking with the management team led by Ms Phillips.

Mel B has been focusing on television work

Reports say Brown and Beckham blame Ms Phillips for their lack of success as solo artists.

Although no decision has been made to split the band, it is widely considered untenable that the Spice Girls will be able to carry on as a group.

The Spice Girls fan club was recently closed down and the band's headquarters have been put up for sale.

As all the members have attempted to concentrate on solo careers there has been no mention of any new material planned for the Spice Girls.

Brown and Beckham, dubbed Scary and Posh Spice, have reportedly refused to meet up to discuss the future of the band following a series of rows.

Mel C has had the most solo success

Brown was said to be upset that Beckham did not give her more support when she was dropped from Virgin Records as a solo artist. She is now concentrating on a career as a TV presenter.

Although her first single I Want You Back, a collaboration with Missy Elliot, gave her a debut solo number one, her single Word Up scraped in at number 14.

And her album Hot was not the big chart success which was anticipated.

Similarly, Beckham, who is married to England football captain David, has worked tirelessly to promote her own solo career but has so far failed to nail that elusive number one.

Posh Spice has been plugging away at her solo career

Both her solo singles were beaten to the top and her album has failed to make an impression.

Bunton - also known as Baby Spice - has enjoyed slightly better solo success, clocking up a number one with What Took You So Long? in April 2001.

But Mel C - Sporty Spice - has been the best-received artist, clocking up two solo number ones and a critically acclaimed album.

But earlier this year she gave the clearest indication the Spice Girls would be not be reuniting after saying she was not "comfortable" performing with the group any longer.

Baby Spice has enjoyed a number one single

The Spice Girls' third album was released in November 2000 to a lukewarm reception and was beaten to the top by Westlife.

And Forever produced only two singles, Holler and Goodbye, and was never toured.

Geri Halliwell quit the band in May 1998, hinting that constant rows with a particular band member led to her decision.

But after reinventing herself, the singer known formerly as Ginger Spice has defied her critics to carve out a high profile and solo career.

She also beat former bandmate Bunton to the number one spot with her song Lift Me Up in 1999.