The clock is quickly ticking down towards the biggest celebrity court showdown in decades. And now Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy are both planning to unleash secret weapons – their husbands!
Closer can reveal the warring WAGs have each urged their other halves – Wayne, 36, and Jamie, 35 – to be at their sides when their case is finally heard at London’s High Court in May. Rebekah is suing Coleen for libel after she sensationally accused her of selling stories about her to the tabloids, something Rebekah strongly denies.
However, sources say neither of the players – who were once pals as England football team-mates – are particularly keen. And insiders say Coleen, 35, is leaning on Wayne to stand by her in public – just like she has countless times in the past.
A source says, “Neither Becky or Coleen are giving an inch in this battle and are determined to win. If Jamie was to attend and Wayne was absent, or vice-versa, it would look horrendous.
“Coleen has been adamant that Wayne is there. But turning up at a high-profile court case is the last thing Wayne wants to do. He’s naturally shy and has been really trying to avoid drama recently. But Coleen has stood by him over and over again so she’s made it clear it’s now time he does the same and doesn’t leave her to do all this alone.”
Meanwhile, another insider says Rebekah is also keen to have Jamie by her side. He has resolutely defended his wife, retweeting messages on social media and also briefly unfollowing Wayne on social media.
CHECK OUT Wayne and Coleen Rooney's love story from the start
Wayne and Coleen Rooney's relationship timeline - slider
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Even though they first met at school when they were 12, Wayne and Coleen first started dating after they finished school at the age of 16.
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At just 17 Wayne joined Everton football club and even though they'd only been dating a year Coleen admitted that they had already discussed getting married.At the time she admitted: "We want to spend the rest of our lives together and there's no stronger commitment than getting married."
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The happy couple got engaged in 2003 at a petrol station after Wayne got down on one knee. He asked his childhood sweetheart to spend the rest of their lives together with a £46,500 engagement ring.
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Coleen discovered that Wayne slept with a 48-year-old nan in a brothel back in 2002
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The WAG then defended her fiancé and admitted when he cheated they hadn't slept together yet. She added, "we weren't having that kind of relationship at that stage."
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Wayne and Coleen looked totally loved up at a public event a year before they got married
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At the age of 22, Wayne and Coleen tied the knot in a church in Italy!
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2009 – A year after their wedding, the happy couple welcomed their first child Kai into the world
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Just a year after they had their first child it was alleged that while Coleen was pregnant, Wayne cheated with prostitutes Jennifer Thompson and Helen Wood.
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Even though Coleen and Kai moved out of their family home following the allegations, the married couple put their troubles aside and reunited.
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The happy couple look so adorable with their son Kai while they await the arrival of their second child
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The Rooney's welcomed their second baby into the world – Klay
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In 2016, the Rooney family welcome baby Kit into the world
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During the summer holidays Coleen denied being pregnant after this photo emerged (even though she was)
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After denying her pregnancy for weeks the happy couple soon confirmed the exciting news - that they're having their fourth child!
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It was shortly after the Rooney's announced they're having their fourth child that Wayne was pictured and arrested for drunk driving.
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Things went from bad to worst after it came to light that Wayne was driving Laura Simpson's car. She then spoke out and claimed that they "had a kiss, a hug, some banter, harmless fun".
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It was then reported that Coleen along with her sons had fled from the family home after revealing her marriage was over.
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Following the scandal, Wayne received a driving ban for two years following his arrest and Laura appeared on This Morning to deny ever cheating with the footballer.
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After weeks of speculation around the couples marriage, it appeared that all was forgiven and forgotten as it was reported that the pair were planning on renewing their wedding vows.
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Coleen then surprised everyone by being totally honest in a Facebook post and admitted that although she's been through a "shit time" she decided to forgive her husband because she wants to "try and continue our marriage and live as a family".
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In February 2018 the Rooney family got even bigger as the happy couple welcomed their fourth child into the world - baby Cass!Yup. They broke their tradition with names beginning with 'K' but the little is adorable so who cares, ey?
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Wayne Rooney's sacrifice for Coleen to keep their family together
Jamie was also recently dragged into the case when it emerged his phone was being searched by his wife’s legal team. The move was part of a demand from lawyers which saw them ask for the release of all correspondence between Rebekah and seven close contacts. One of those contacts is Rebekah’s agent Caroline Watt, who Coleen’s lawyers claim is the “direct leak” of her fake private Instagram stories.
The insider says, “Jamie has never once questioned her and has proved his loyalty. They’re a great team and this saga has only served to underline how much they rely on one another. There’s no doubt Jamie will be at Becky’s side when the trial starts.”
Wayne, however, hasn’t publicly supported Coleen since the Wagatha scandal – which saw Coleen publicly accuse Rebekah of selling stories leaking details about her life to the tabloids, from her private Instagram account.
Despite multiple controversies, however, Coleen has remained by Wayne’s side throughout during their 19- year relationship and 14-year marriage. He was infamously alleged to have cheated on her as his career was taking off in 2004, sleeping with a prostitute and lapdancer. Then in 2010, it was claimed he’d slept with escorts Helen Wood and Jenny Thompson.
In 2017, Wayne was charged with drink-driving after giving a girl a lift home from a bar in her car while Coleen was on holiday with their sons, Kai, 12, Klay, eight, Kit, six, and Cass, four. At the time, Coleen defended her marriage in a lengthy Facebook post.
Then, after he moved to play in the US, he was pictured in a nightclub with scantily clad waitresses after the “Wagatha” case kicked off. To make matters worse he was then later cautioned by American cops after being drunk on a plane.
However, Coleen remained supportive and in the documentary Wayne, which aired in January on Amazon Prime, she said, “There’s nothing that we can’t deal with, and that’s my way. We’re in a situation, let’s sit down, let’s see what we can do, and can you make it work? And we have.”
As Closer previously reported, Wayne has been concerned about the toll the case could take on Coleen and had even spoken to her about dropping it as he couldn’t face seeing her under strain. And now the source says Wayne – who has battled alcohol and gambling issues over the years – is reluctant to get involved in the drama and upcoming trial.
“He is in two minds as to what to do. On one hand he wants to be loyal to Coleen by being at her side during what will be some of the toughest days of her life. But, at the same time, after years of bad headlines it’s only natural that at times like this he wants to keep his head down.
“But Coleen has made her feelings clear. She understands Wayne’s reluctance but there have been countless times she has been dragged into the limelight to defend Wayne. Now it’s his turn to do the same.”
Read more in the latest issue of Closer magazine - OUT NOW.