Zayn Malik’s exit from One Direction raised some big question about the band’s future, and knowing Directioners they probably wouldn’t take this news much easier either.

Band boss Simon Cowell thinks the band, who are working on releasing their next album late this year, would take a break after that. Cowell feels they are at that point now where taking time off to focus on other things would work better for everyone in the long.

“In terms of the band, they’ve got enough hits now they can take some time off and do some other stuff they want to do,” Cowell told the Sun.

“Then I hope they’ll have a little bit of time apart and want to get back together again. It’s a fun job, but it’s absolutely their decision.”

Band member Louis Tomlinson also recently discovered that he was going to have a baby, and Cowell revealed he had a few words for the young singer.

“I said to him, ‘You man up. You’re fortunate because you’re in a position to be able to look after the baby and not worry too much about that’”