Last month, the music mogul announced that the current season of the reality contest will be his last as he prepares to launch a US version of The X Factor.
"I think it's a contract move," Sykes told reporters during a conference call. "I don't really see him leaving. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, but it just won't be Idol without Simon."
Cowell has previously declared that his Idol replacement must be good-looking and tipped Noel Gallagher for the role.
> Click here to read our recap of the latest 'Idol' episode
