AceShowbiz -

The remaining One Direction members are the ones who decide the band's future. Simon Cowell, their label boss and the person who formed the group during U.K.'s "The X Factor" five years ago, has stated that he's not forcing the boys to reunite once they end their lengthy break.

Speaking to Yahoo Celebrity U.K. at the launch of the 12th series of "X Factor" on Wednesday night, August 26, Cowell said he'd like Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to work together as One Direction again following the hiatus, but "it's not going to be because of any pressure from me."

"It really has to be, like we said in the beginning, this is an opportunity, you won it, and I've always had that attitude with them. They're nice guys and they're loyal so it'll be fine," he continued.

Over the weekend, reports emerged saying that One Direction would take a 12-month break starting next March to focus on their solo projects. They'll put out their fifth studio album later this year as scheduled, but won't go on a tour to support it.

The band's confirmation broke the hearts of Directioners everywhere, but Cowell defended the boys by saying the break's going to be a good thing for them.

"Even though they were young, that was a grueling schedule and after a while I could see they were exhausted so when they asked how I felt about it I said for them to do whatever they want," he explained. "I've known for a while that they were going to take 2016 off, and they had to on their workload."