Cheryl Cole to split in 'weeks'

Feb 18, 2010, 9:30 GMT

Cheryl Cole is expected to file for divorce from her husband Ashley Cole "within weeks".

Friends of the 'Fight for This Love' singer - whose soccer player husband allegedly cheated on her with an unnamed blonde secretary - claim the 26-year-old pop beauty will leave him after growing "exhausted" by allegations of his infidelity.

One pal told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Cheryl is holding it together, she is extremely tough - don't forget she comes from a council estate in Newcastle, England, and is a fighter.

"She loves Ashley, he is the love of her life, but there is only so much she will take.

"Cheryl is exhausted with it all. There was a point when she was going to ride it all out, but she has heard rumours of more women and cannot face it. They will split within weeks."

This news comes shortly after a blonde office worker claimed she had slept with Ashley twice in 2008 after exchanging explicit pictures and text messages with the 29-year-old sportsman for weeks. Texts of a similar nature were also found on the phone of glamour model Sonia Wild.

If the couple - who wed in July 2006 - do divorce, Cheryl can expect to receive a large percentage of Ashley's wealth, because they didn't sign a prenuptial agreement.

A legal source said: "This is an unusual situation for a footballer as very few have wives with their own earnings. However, the discrepancy between their net worths means that Mrs Cole would have a very strong case for a significant claim over a large portion of his wealth, now and in the future."

Cheryl flew to Los Angeles yesterday (17.02.10) following her performance at the BRITs on Tuesday (16.02.10).

The Girls Aloud singer wasn't wearing her £160,000 engagement or wedding ring before her flight - but had a similar gold-coloured rock on in its place.

A source said: "Cheryl's most treasured possession is her diamond wedding ring. She is refusing to wear it. The fact she has replaced it with a decoy is a big two fingers up to Ashley. To onlookers it looks like she's a married woman - but to Ashley it's a clear sign that she feels their relationship is in big, big trouble."