The Wanted's split was caused by One Direction's success, Max George says. Is a One Direction break up next?

Though the One Direction boys Harry, Louis, Niall, Liam and Zayn didn't cause The Wanted's Tom, Max, Jay, Siva and Nathan to split, Max George suggested that there was only room for one boy band in the spotlight, Cambio reports.

Max George told The Sun (via DigitalSpy): "One Direction are a phenomenon that no one else can compete with," adding, "They've taken over the market. We have our own fans, who we love, but we couldn't stop things from happening."

But Max added that "tension" between his bandmates inevitably caused The Wanted to break up.

He explained: "Over the past year there has been a lot of tension. Our personal lives drove us apart. Things started to happen and we were drifting. We used to be such a brotherly pact, but it started to feel like it wasn't The Wanted any more."

Bands only last for so long - is a One Direction break up inevitable?

In a recent interview with Billboard, the One Direction boys confronted the rumors that they were heading for a break up.

In the article the band's mentor, Simon Cowell, said that "eventually they probably will split up and maybe want to have their own careers."

But this shouldn't come anytime soon: "From what I hear, they're really enjoying what they're doing and and we don't feel there's anything seriously wrong here," Simon also told the magazine.

"We just love what we're doing right now," Liam said. "We've got no intention to change that."

Niall added, "I have my four best mates on the road with me to keep me from getting lonely. Wouldn't give it up for anything."