'I didn't Think Cheryl Will Leave'
ANGRY ASHLEY COLE has told England team-mates: "I thought CHERYL would never leave me."The defender, 29, flew to a training camp in Austria on Wednesday in a "foul mood" as he believed his marriage could be saved - even AFTER the singer said she wanted a divorce.
A close friend said: "The split has left Ashley in the pits. He thought he was invincible - Cheryl proved him wrong.
"He's furious with the world at the moment and is not in a good frame of mind.
"But the lads will turn it around for him so he's ready for South Africa."
Ashley was stunned when 26-year-old Cheryl filed for divorce, as The Sun revealed on Wednesday.
She wants NO MONEY from the £100,000-a-week Chelsea ace and has given him their £6million Surrey home.
She plans to forge a TV career in the States with the help of X Factor colleague SIMON COWELL - who advised her to maintain total independence to aid a clean break.
The source added: "Ashley believed because of the house and nearly four years of marriage, she wouldn't up and leave totally and so quickly.
"He thought there would be another chance to sort things out. But the timing of Cheryl filing for divorce is no coincidence. While he is away and concentrating on the World Cup, there will be little opportunity for him to contact his ex wife.
"Ashley's a broken man. But he knows he has a vital role in the England campaign."
Cheryl, whose career continues to go from strength to strength, performed at the London O2 Arena last night with the BLACK EYED PEAS.
She may land a role on the US X Factor in September next year and is househunting in Los Angeles.
She dumped Ashley, who was training with England in Irdning yesterday, after he was linked to FIVE girls.
The Sun revealed how he romped with hairdresser Aimee Walton, 25, at the end of 2007, just over a year after marrying Cheryl.
Last February, we told how he sent nude pictures of himself to glamour model Sonia Wild, 28, and also romped with football secretary Vicki Gough, 30. He was also linked to US political aide Ann Corbitt, 28, in Seattle - while Alexandra Taylor, 27, later claimed they romped in 2004.