Cheryl Cole’s husband Ashley did not hang around to celebrate after she performed on The X Factor on Sunday’s Show, according to a report. The footballer was seen in the audience as his wife sang her debut solo single ‘Fight For This Love’ on Sunday, but he went on to leave the studios shortly afterwards, the Daily Star claims.

A source said: “When Ashley left it certainly raised a few eyebrows. You would think a husband would stay to celebrate with his missus.

“Ashley was eager to be in the audience and of course the cameras zoomed in on him sitting in the crowd smiling. But after that he did a disappearing act. He didn’t hang around.”

It is thought that Cole toasted the well-received performance backstage with her Girls Aloud bandmates Sarah Harding, Kimberley Wash and Nicola Roberts after appearing on ITV2 spinoff The Xtra Factor.

The insider added: “Thank God Sarah, Kimberley and Nicola were there otherwise she would have been celebrating on her own. It’s a bit odd Ashley didn’t stay until the end.”

Spokesmen for Cole and The X Factor declined to comment on the newspaper’s story, though other sources suggested that Ashley left early because he had football training the next day?.