‘It’s braver to stay’

Lizzie Cundy, 50, mum to two grown-up sons, split from her footballer husband Jason in 2010 after 16 years amid cheating claims. She says, “I know Coleen, and I get on well with her, but I feel Wayne is a bit of a child. A big problem with footballers is they are encouraged by clubs to settle down young as they believe that will keep them out of trouble – but often the footballers rebel after feeling they’ve missed out on their youth.

“Sadly, Wayne is acting up far too often now – and something has to change. I’m sure Coleen is doing everything she can to shield their boys [Kai, nine, Klay, five, Kit, three, and Cass, one] from the recent headlines, but if this behaviour carries on, one day they’ll be able to see it all for themselves. My advice to Coleen would be to lay down some serious rules and make sure he knows exactly what he stands to lose if he disobeys.

“I split from my husband Jason nine years ago after discovering he had been unfaithful. I ran for the hills from his bad behaviour and I’m glad I did because my life is great now, and I wouldn’t be as happy if I’d stayed. But it was hard as, at the time, we had two young children together.

“Ultimately, though, I do think it’s braver to stick around and try to work it out because that takes forgiveness and it’s hard to learn to trust again. Marriage isn’t always easy and I feel for Coleen. She’s one of the strongest people, but all this drama would be hard for anyone to take.”