ASHLEY COLE finally saw red last night after years of making a fool of long-suffering wife CHERYL.
If the relationship had been a football match, the love rat would have been given his marching orders minutes after kick off.

Cheryl has turned a blind eye to more foul play during their short marriage than any right-minded wife would ever tolerate.

But he had the nerve to throw second chance after second chance back in his loyal wife’s pretty face time and time again.

It makes it all the more frustrating that he happens to be one of England’s best.

For Cheryl however, this divorce couldn’t come quickly enough. She has looked the happiest she has been for years over the past few weeks.

Touring with WILL.I.AM supporting THE BLACK EYED PEAS has given her an excuse to do what she loves best – performing on stage surrounded by friends.

Her incredible gesture to get the divorce over before the World Cup goes to show just why the nation has taken her to their hearts.

Her X Factor role showed her to be kind-hearted, fair and genuine – but tough when necessary.

She is a good, honest woman who deserved better.

By getting the headlines and furore of the final separation out the way now, it paves the way for Ashley to concentrate fully on performing well for England in South Africa.

The irony of the whole drama is that if only he performed his duties as a married man as well as he plays left-back for his country, none of this would have happened.

In a season when his off-the-field turmoil has been at its worst, his performances have been flawless.

The 29-year-old, who has the most FA Cup winner’s medals in history with SIX, now has a silverware cabinet any professional player would kill for.

After Chelsea lifted the Premier League title at Stamford Bridge, he said: “As everyone knows I’ve had a lot of problems off the pitch this season, but this makes up for it.”

A title medal more important than a marriage? It just goes to show how much he valued his five years with Cheryl – and how highly he values football.

This season has also seen him battle back from a serious injury incredibly quickly.

The strange ratio of professional success against personal woe has been the same for Cheryl. She could have used her husband’s misbehaving as an excuse to shy away from the limelight.

But her career is on a stunning upward trajectory that shows no sign of slowing down.

America beckons with SIMONCOWELL plotting domination of the US with a seat on the X Factor judging panel reserved for Miss Tweedy.

And her solo career has gone better than even she would have imagined. Now the divorce is almost there it signals a fresh start for the Geordie lass.

This divorce however, is good news all-round.

Cheryl is single and the stampede to her door starts now.

As for Ashley, he couldn’t have asked for a better result given the circumstances he engineered for himself.

A fling with a hairdresser and sending half-naked pictures of himself to ropey girls is a mistake that might finally sink in.

England fans can smile though – it is without question a massive boost to the World Cup campaign.
Medal

Ashley is breathing a huge sigh of relief and will be sleeping easily at night. Unless of course, he’s got another blonde round for some pre-tournament stress-relief.

He might have lost every bloke’s dream woman as a wife, but he has gained a chance to redeem himself with a guts and glory performance with his England pals next month.

That elusive World Cup winner’s medal could just be the only piece of silverware to replace the missing wedding ring from his finger.

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