Ashley Cole blames marriage breakdown on Cheryl's mother living with them

By Sara Nathan and Ben Todd

Three's a crowd? Ashley and Cheryl out partying with her mother Joan on Cheryl's 26th birthday last July


Ashley Cole is blaming the breakdown of his three-and-a-half year marriage to Cheryl on his mother-in-law.

The 29-year-old England defender says their problems began when Cheryl's mother Joan Callaghan, 49, moved into their nine-bedroom £6million Surrey mansion two years ago.

As the couple line up for a divorce battle over their £22million fortune, the Daily Mail reveals his anger as he tells friends: 'How could our marriage stand a chance?'

After enduring more than a week of humiliating revelations about her husband's serial betrayals, the X Factor judge finally declared their union was over yesterday afternoon.

His bitterness over Cheryl's 'interfering' mother emerged as it was revealed today:

The couple are squaring up for a £22million divorce battle

Ashley offered to go into sex rehab like Tiger Woods

He was calling Cheryl every ten minutes begging for a reconciliation

Cheryl's parting words were: 'You have lied and lied and lied. I'll see you around.'

She is already looking to buy a £2.1m villa in Hollywood

Cheryl, 26, confirmed the split hours after arriving home from a week in Los Angeles, where she had been counselled by close friends including Simon Cowell and dancer Derek Hough.
The singer - who has 'Mrs Cole' tattooed on the back of her neck - and the 29-year-old England defender now face an acrimonious struggle as they divide up their estimated £22million fortune.


It's over: Cheryl Cole, pictured here arriving at London's Heathrow airport yesterday, has announced she is separating from her husband Ashley


The Daily Mail has learned that Cole has already told his glamorous wife she will have to battle to get any of his money.

A brief statement issued by the singer yesterday said: 'Cheryl Cole is separating from her husband Ashley Cole.

'Cheryl asks the media to respect her privacy during this difficult time. We have no further comment to make.'

Last night it was reported that Ashley bombarded his wife with desperate phone calls begging her to save their marriage and even offered to go to rehab to tackle his sex problems.

He was said to have left a string of emotional voicemails begging the X Factor star to reconsider their separation, but she refused to answer the calls, according to the Sun.

Cole's last ditch attempt to save his marriage mirrors that of Tiger Woods, another sports hero who has fallen from grace, who went to rehab.

A close friend told the paper: 'Ashley was calling every ten minutes or so and leaving messages. He was still very emotional and in distress.

'He suggested they could go for counselling and that he could try therapy. He admitted for the first time that he has problem.

'Cheryl refused to answer any of the calls and they went straight to voicemail. She was with Derek at the time talking about her future.
'Cheryl was talking constantly and talking everything through. One minute, she was really upbeat, feeling strong and positive about a new life on her own,' the friend said.

'Then she would come crashing down and feel sorry for Ashley and think how much she loves him. But in the end she decided that she has to stay strong and stick to her plan.'


source: dailymail