Ashley Cole's mother tries to save her son's marriage to Cheryl as she fears for his state of mind

By Sara Nathan and Ben Todd

Worried mum: Sue Cole has been acting as a 'go-between' between Cheryl and Ashley in an attempt to save their marriage


The mother of cheating Ashley Cole has stepped in to try and act as peacemaker in a desperate bid to try and save her son’s marriage to Cheryl Cole.

As the crocked Chelsea player undergoes intensive therapy for a broken ankle at a sports clinic in France, his mother Sue Cole is acting as a ‘go-between’ between the couple.

But it seems that Mrs Cole’s valiant efforts may be in vain as friends of the X Factor star told how she had been left furious after Cole blamed his marriage woes on his mother-in-law, Joan Callaghan.

Mrs Callaghan, 50, has been an almost permanent presence at the Coles’ £6 million mansion in Hurtmore, Surrey, and friends of Cole told how their sex life ‘dwindled to virtually nothing’ with her in the house.

However, last night, sources close to the Girls Aloud beauty insisted that Mrs Callaghan was not to blame, despite the fact the singer admitted their sex life was almost non-existent.


Cheryl and her mother Joan, who Ashley blames for ruining his and Cheryl's sex life


They insisted that the petite brunette, nicknamed a ‘pocket rocket’ always stayed in a separate annexe away from the nine bedroom home and insisted she did not live with them full time but would just come down for occasional extended stays.

A friend said: ‘It’s rich that Ashley’s trying to blame Joan. For starters, Joan always stays in an annex when she comes down – and she’s not there all the time.

'Cheryl is the only member of Joan’s family who lives down South. Everyone else is in Newcastle. So when she comes down, she may stay for four days at a time but then she heads back North.’

Now Cheryl's weight has plummeted again after barely eating for the past three weeks and surviving on peppermint tea.

Too heartbroken to eat and with no interest in food, she is thought to have lost 5lbs from her already slender frame.

A friend told The Sun: 'Since the latest storm broke, she has lost her appetite completely.

'All she will touch is peppermint tea. Her mum has been cooking up lovely homemade soup but she is not interested.'

They said her energetic routine and the rehearsals for her Brits performance last week also burned off the calories and contributed to her weight loss.

She dropped to 6st in three weeks after learning of Cole's affair with hairdresser Aimee Walton in 2008 and left friends deeply concerned for her health.

But, despite relations between the two sides worsening, divorce proceedings have not yet started.

The friend added: 'At the moment, it is probable the separation will eventually lead to divorce but not definite.’


Plummeting weight: Cheryl Cole (L) dropped to 6st in 2008 when allegations of Ashley cheating first surfaced and she holidayed with her Girls Aloud pals


Cole, who yesterday was seen at a clinic with teammate Michael Essien wearing a brace over his injured leg and sporting an unshaven face, is facing two and a half months recovery with gruelling rehab every day in a bid to get fit for the World Cup this summer in South Africa.

And his mother Sue, who brought up her sons single-handedly when their father Ron Callender walked out on her, is now desperately trying to mend the broken relationship.

Both Mrs Cole and her son Matthew have been in touch with Cheryl, with a source saying: ‘Sue is acting as a go-between and trying to calm the waters.

‘She has been speaking to Cheryl about trying to see both sides of the situation, but Cheryl is furious that Ashley is totally unrepentant and has refused to apologise or see it as his fault and take the blame.


Mother and son: Ashley and his mum on a shopping trip to Prada in 2001


‘Ashley never sees things as his fault and he feels Cheryl has neglected him. Sue Cole is desperately worried about Ashley’s state of mind and feels he is struggling to stay calm.

‘Sue has asked Cheryl to calm down and talk to Ashley and be there for him while he struggles to get well again in time for the World Cup. Cheryl is feeling calmer.

She’s at least listening to Sue and Matthew.’

Meanwhile, Mrs Cole admitted her sex life with estranged husband Ashley was virtually non-existent months before they split.


Suportive: Cheryl's Girls Aloud bandmate Nicola Roberts leaves Cheryl's house on Wednesday night after comforting her friend

The ‘Fight for This Love’ singer – who announced her three-and-a-half year marriage to the soccer player was over earlier this week following allegations he had cheated on her with five women – said she was so busy with her career the pair barely had time to see each let alone get intimate.

When asked if she was pregnant, Cheryl replied: ‘No, chance would be a fine thing. I haven’t been home. It would never be perfect timing, so I am not trying, I am preventing.’

Mrs Cole is continuing to be comforted by some of her band-mates.

Nicola Roberts was at the family home until the early hours of yesterday morning (25) – only leaving in a limousine at 1am.


source: dailymail