Robbie Williams' mentor Chris Briggs is set to work with X Factor winner Matt Cardle, it's been reported.

Briggs, an A&R veteran who recently moved from EMI to Sony, has been teamed with Cardle in a bid to make him a star.

Judge Simon Cowell is understood to be keen for Cardle to make a success of his career compared to previous male X Factor winners.

Briggs was influential in uniting Williams with songwriter Guy Chambers, with whom the singer wrote some of his biggest hits.

"It was a big-money deal but Chris is commonly regarded as one of the most gifted individuals in the music business,” a source told The Sun.

"Simon [Cowell's] decision to team him with Matt is very canny indeed."

Cardle topped the festive chart at the end of last year with 'When We Collide', a cover of Biffy Clyro's 'Many Of Horror'.

(by Jason Gregory)