'I don't believe it': Ryan Giggs's wife Stacey tells brother-in-law Rhodri his wife Natasha is a liar.... even as claims of a 'THIRD lover' emerge

By Sarah Fitzmaurice


Standing by my man: Stacey Giggs is said to be sticking with Ryan despite the claims made by his brother's wife Natasha that she has been having an affair with the footballer since 2003. Giggs is said to have claimed the allegations were 'made up'


Ryan Giggs’s wife will stand by him despite the claims that he had an eight-year affair with his brother’s wife.

The footballer, 37, has denied that he has been having an affair with his brother’s wife and Stacey believes him.

Ryan is said to have told his brother Rhodri that Natasha ‘made up’ the allegations.


A source told The Sun: ‘Ryan tried to tell Rhodri that the whole thing was rubbish and not true. But Rhodri snapped back “I don’t believe a word of what you’re saying to me. You’re just a liar".'

And Rhodri is said to have continued: 'How can anyone believe what you say ever again after all this? Why would Natasha make any of this up?'

The source also said: 'Eventually Stacey grabbed the phone off Ryan and starting shouting: "Look Rhodri, if it's not true, it's just not true. We don't believe Natasha." She then hung up.'

Stacey, 32, is said to believe that Natasha, 28, has been besotted with the Manchester United footballer for many years.

A friend close to Stacey said: ‘Make no bones about it, Stacey believes that Natasha has been trying to steal her husband,’ according to the Daily Star.

Hat-trick? Ryan has denied an affair with Natasha Giggs, the wife of his brother Rhodri, but she claims a third woman called her to say she had also been sleeping with the Manchester United player. Natasha claimed she has been having an eight year affair with Ryan after allegations emerged that he had an affair with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas


‘She’s suspected it for a long time and these events prove it. But she (Natasha) has not succeeded.’

Meanwhile Natasha is said to have spoken to a third woman last week who claimed to have had an affair with Ryan.

Natasha is said to have told friends and Rhodri, 34, that a mystery woman called her and said: ‘You’re not the only one who’s been sleeping with Ryan.’

Giggs was recently named as the high-profile footballer with an injunction protecting his name over allegations that he had an affair with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas.

Giggs's identity was revealed when MP John Hemming named him in Parliament.

Shortly after his identity was revealed Natasha spoke out and claimed to have been involved with the footballer since 2003.

Leaving the marital home: Rhodri, who is said to have branded Ryan a 'liar', was seen leaving his mother's home with actor Will Mellor yesterday

The allegations have raised questions over the paternity of her son, born in August 2006 only two months before Ryan and Stacey's own son.

Stacey and Ryan have flown to Spain but instead of staying at the Marbella Club the couple cancelled their booking and are staying in a private villa.

Meanwhile Imogen has warned women against getting involved with a married man.

In an interview with Heat magazine this week the former Miss Wales pleaded: ‘Don’t get involved with a married man, really don’t.

‘It’s a car crash waiting to happen whether you’re in the public eye or not. You are always going to get hurt. You always are, and if you can control your feelings, get out of it as soon as you can.’

It has also been reported that Ryan is set to become the ‘new Tiger Woods’ as sponsors abandon him over his alleged philandering.

Marketing experts have predicted that the firms which have helped him amass a £34million fortune would react unfavourably to the destruction of his family-man image.

Giggs’s biggest deal, which has earned him £20million, is with the sportswear giant Reebok, but it declined to respond yesterday when asked by the Mail whether it would be standing by him.


source:dailymail

Weary Rhodri Giggs emerges from marital home after 'dumping his wife for eight-year affair with brother Ryan'

By James Tozer and Liz Thomas


-'Devastated' Rhodri 'in a bad way' after discovering details of affair
-Manchester United star slept with Natasha Giggs the day after his daughter was born
-'Squeaky clean' footballer continued affair while he was also seeing Big Brother housemate Imogen Thomas

'Devastated': Rhodri Giggs was seen outside his house in Bolton today after apparently splitting from wife Natasha, seen yesterday, following reports of her eight-year affair with his brother Ryan


Ryan Giggs' brother Rhodri has emerged from his marital home after it was claimed he had split from his wife Natasha following claims of her having an affair with his footballer sibling.

Rhodri, 34, looked tired and stressed as he left the property in Bolton alongside close friend Will Mellor. And, significantly, Rhodri's ring finger was bare, with no sign of the wedding band he wore up until recently.

It is believed Rhodri and Mellor spent the afternoon with the Giggs' brothers' mother.

Rhodri is said to be 'devastated' over the reported eight-year relationship, and has now apparently ended his marriage, telling The Sun: 'I was with her on Saturday but I'm not with her now.'


A source told the newspaper: 'He's devastated and can't believe the extent of his humiliation - by both of them.

'Rhodri said, "I know me and Ryan have had our ups and downs but this is the lowest of the low". He has suspicions that something may have gone on between Ryan and Natasha, but he never thought it was to this extent. His head is in a mess.'

The split comes as it was reported in a Sunday newspaper that Natasha, 28, and Manchester United star Ryan had begun their relationship before she began dating his younger sibling Rhodri.

The News of the World claimed Giggs slept with Natasha the day after his eight-year-old daughter was born, and again the day after the arrival of his four-year-old son. The affair was alleged to have continued until April 9.

Weary: Rhodri looked tired and stressed as he left the house with best friend Will Mellor. His wedding ring was also noticeably absent from his left hand

Worn out: Rhodri kept as hidden as possible under the hood of his black sweatshirt


To underline 37-year-old Giggs’s folly in taking out his notorious injunction over an alleged fling with former Big Brother housemate Imogen Thomas, his sister-in-law said it was this which spurred her to break her silence.

‘When I found out he was cheating with Imogen too, I was really hurt,’ she told the paper through a ‘friend’.

‘I know that sounds really strange, but he wasn’t just cheating on Stacey, he was cheating on me too. Our relationship was just about sex to him.’

Rhodri is now said to be ‘in a bad way’, and is being supported by friends, including TV star Will Mellor, at the marital home, a £170,000 terrace townhouse.

Dashing up to Bolton to support his friend, Mellor, who was best man at Rhodri and Natasha's wedding last September, said: 'I'm driving up from London. I just want to be with him and be a friend. He can't be on his own at a time like this.'

Betrayed: Wife Stacey with Ryan Giggs at an awards ceremony earlier this year


Last night Rhodri changed his Facebook profile picture to a defiant quote reading: ‘Isn’t it weird how people talk s*** about you, when the only thing they actually know about you is your name?’

Estate agent Natasha was pictured at a petrol station yesterday before apparently heading abroad with her two young children – after insisting that her account was ‘100 per cent accurate’.

She said she was a single mother when she met Giggs at a Manchester bar in March 2003 while Stacey – then his fiancée – was pregnant with their first child. The pair enjoyed a brief fling but after they broke it off she began seeing Rhodri, who had joined them on a night out, the paper said.

That did not stop Giggs secretly resuming their relationship the following year, it alleged, and even when she became engaged to Rhodri in 2005 and was expecting his child, he continued demanding to see her.

Natasha gave birth in August 2006 and Stacey had her son two months later, but the affair was quickly rekindled, it was claimed. ‘The day after his son was born we met up and had sex,’ the paper quoted Natasha as saying through her friend. ‘Stacey was still in hospital.’

Despite rumours among their friends about the affair, and near-misses when the pair’s respective partners became suspicious of messages on their mobile phones, the couple continued their liaisons.

The paper said a falling-out between the brothers over Giggs supposedly flirting with one of Natasha’s friends meant he pulled out of being best man at her wedding to Rhodri in Las Vegas last summer.

He also failed to turn up at a celebration party in Manchester – instead, fatefully, attending a friend’s birthday event in London where he met Imogen Thomas.

Shortly after his last tryst with Natasha, rumours began to circulate that he was the mystery footballer who had taken out an injunction forbidding discussion of his affair with Miss Thomas.

Natasha texted him to ask if this was true. He reportedly insisted: ‘No way. It’s not me.’

The following month, however, shortly before Twitter users broadcast the truth around the world, she realised he was lying.

In a furious text message she wrote: ‘I know u may not have any loyalties towards me n my feelings, that’s fine… now I no longer have any loyalties to u!

‘Any kind of feelings or respect I may have had for u disappeared when I realized how much u have manipulated me! You’re an idiot!’

Betrayed: Rhodri Giggs pictured on holiday with his wife Natasha

Playing away: Big Brother beauty Imogen Thomas also enjoyed an affair with Giggs


However Giggs allegedly responded: ‘What the **** u going on about? This has been the worst 2 weeks of my life!!!’

Natasha also accused the £80,000-a-week star of being astonishingly tight-fisted, the paper said. He allegedly conducted their liaisons in empty flats she was marketing and left her to pay for rounds of drinks and expensive hotel rooms.

Giggs is said to have left on a make-or-break foreign holiday with his wife and children before yesterday’s allegations appeared. His mother Lynne, who lives a few doors from his £6million mansion in Worsley, Manchester, refused to comment.

Rhodri combines his duties as player-manager of non-league Salford City with a day job delivering lorryloads of paper.

The Giggs boys: Rhodri, left, with brother Ryan


Max Clifford, who is representing both Natasha and Imogen Thomas, said the whole sordid saga would have remained under wraps had Giggs not obtained the gagging order, because Miss Thomas had not wanted it made public.

He added that Miss Thomas was ‘hurt and very upset’.

‘It’s a double-edged sword for her – it is horrible to find out this has been going on, but she does feel vindicated because this shows the kind of man he really is.’




source:dailymail

'I just want to curl up and die', tweets Imogen Thomas as Ryan Giggs faces new affair claims

By Daily Mail Reporter


Upset: Imogen Thomas, seen here in London on Saturday, took to Twitter to vent her frustrations over new affair claims surrounding Ryan Giggs


Imogen Thomas took to her Twitter page yesterday to tell fans she wanted to 'curl up and die' as it was reported that former lover Ryan Giggs had also been sleeping with his brother's wife during their affair.

The former Big Brother housemate's relationship with Giggs was only made public earlier this month as the footballer took out a super-injunction to keep the affair private.

But, after finding out Giggs had also been cheating on wife Stacey with his brother Rhodri's wife Natasha, Imogen took to Twitter to vent her anger.

Emotional: Imogen tweeted she just wanted to 'curl up and die'


She wrote: 'I just wanna curl up and die today.'

And Imogen wasn't the only one who was angry over reports she had been cheated on, as Natasha is said to have felt the same way.

Natasha is quoted by the News of the World as telling a 'friend': 'When I found out he was cheating with Imogen too, I was really hurt.

‘I know that sounds really strange, but he wasn’t just cheating on Stacey, he was cheating on me too. Our relationship was just about sex to him.’

Distress: It has been claimed Giggs was sleeping with both Imogen and his brother's wife Natasha (right) at the same time


Max Clifford, who is representing both Natasha and Imogen Thomas, said the whole sordid saga would have remained under wraps had Giggs not obtained the gagging order, because Miss Thomas had not wanted it made public.

He added that Miss Thomas was ‘hurt and very upset’.

‘It’s a double-edged sword for her – it is horrible to find out this has been going on, but she does feel vindicated because this shows the kind of man he really is.’

New claims: Giggs is reported to have cheated on wife Stacey for eight years with Natasha


Meanwhile, Imogen's father came forward over the weekend to brand Giggs a ‘gutless coward’ after failing to clear her name of blackmail allegations.

Charles Thomas, 58, has said that his 28-year-old daughter has never been a ‘planner or a plotter’.

Imogen was portrayed in court as a blackmailer, suggesting that she asked to be paid by Giggs to keep quiet about their alleged affair.

And her father told The Sun: ‘She is definitely, 100 per cent, not a blackmailer.

‘It is wicked of him not to clear her name over the blackmail allegation made in court. His failure to do that makes him a gutless coward in my opinion.’

The new affair claims surrounding Giggs marked a difficult end to the weekend for Imogen, who had made the most of her Saturday night watching Britain's Got Talent before appearing on the ITV2 spin-off show, Britain's Got More Talent.

After chatting to BGMT host Stephen Mulhern, Imogen tweeted: 'BGT was amaze last night. The talent was fabaduppa. LOVED all the judges and all the other guests on the show too.'

Before arriving in a fringed cream mini dress, Imogen was spotted leaving the Stuart Phillips hair salon in Covent Garden after getting a blowdry.

Giggs is now said to have gone on a foreign holiday with wife Stacey and their two children in a bid to repair the damage done to his marriage.


source:dailymail

Ryan Giggs accused of '8-year affair with his BROTHER'S wife'

By Daily Mail Reporter


More claims: Ryan Giggs has been accused of having an affair with his brother's wife

Ryan Giggs has found himself hitting headlines once again, this time for an alleged extra-marital affair with his brother’s wife.

A Sunday tabloid has claimed that the Manchester United star embarked on an eight-year relationship with his 28-year-old sister-in-law Natasha.

Following his alleged affair with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, who was gagged with a super-injunction, now more claims of betrayal have stunned his fans.

The News Of The World today claimed that the multi-millionaire footballer even spent the night with estate agent Natasha last month on April 9.

The tabloid also alleged that Giggs was seeing Natasha behind his wife Stacey’s back while she was pregnant.

The 37-year-old former BBC Sports Personality of the Year is said to have met his brother’s wife in a string of hotels, after first meeting Natasha when she was single in 2003.

A friend of Natasha told the newspaper: ‘I knew it was wrong. It’s the worst possible betrayal. I tried to end it but my relationship with Ryan was like an addiction. Anything he said, I did, I couldn’t say no.’

She continued that it was all on the footballer’s terms and he never told her he loved her.

‘Ryan was never romantic with me. It was all about sex’, the friend said.

Giggs is said to have met Natasha eight-years-ago in Manchester nightclub Sugar Lounge, when she was 20-years-old.

She had apparently recently split from the father of her first child and Giggs was engaged to his now wife Stacey.

Married: Natasha poses with Ryan Giggs' brother Rhodri, who she married in 2010


Natasha’s friend revealed that he apparently bought her drinks and complimented her appearance before taking her number and allegedly asking her to meet him the following night.

The following night they went to the Living Room bar, where Natasha also met Ryan’s brother Rhodri.

The trio continued onto another club and then dined at a Chinese restaurant for a meal before all heading back to a friend’s house.

The source told the tabloid that this was where Natasha allegedly first slept with Ryan, but afterwards found out that the star had a pregnant girlfriend.

Brothers: Ryan Gigg's brother Rhodri married Natasha in 2010 and the couple have a child together

Family man: Ryan Giggs pictured with his wife, and mother of his two children, Stacey, last month on the red carpet


The trio continued onto another club and then dined at a Chinese restaurant for a meal before all heading back to a friend’s house.

The source told the tabloid that this was where Natasha allegedly first slept with Ryan, but afterwards found out that the star had a pregnant girlfriend.

After confronting him about Stacey, Ryan allegedly asked Natasha if he could trust her and claims he didn’t mention his fiancée again.

But Giggs is claimed to have kept in touch with Natasha and regularly meet up with her to have sex.

But in May 2003, Natasha started dating his brother Rhodri and two months later Ryan apparently stopped contacting her.

They are said to have met up at a New Year party at his mother’s house though and Ryan apparently pretended to Stacey that he didn’t know Natasha.

Alleged mistress: It was claimed today that Natasha has had an eight-year affair with footballer Ryan Giggs

More allegations: Ryan Giggs's alleged six month affair with Imogen Thomas surfaced last month, but she is still gagged by a super-injunction


After that they didn’t see each other for a year but Natasha’s friend claims Ryan contacted her once again to resume the alleged affair in the autumn of 2004.

Natasha’s friend said: ‘I then read that Stacey had kicked him out. And a friend told me that they thought Stacey had found a message on Ryan’s phone. I wondered if it was from me.’

Meanwhile, Rhodri proposed to Natasha in 2005 and Ryan was meant to be his best man.

Natasha fell pregnant to Rhodri later that year, but is claimed to have still slept with Ryan during a charity golf tournament in June 2006, according to the newspaper.

Natasha and Rhodri’s son was born in August 2006, while Stacey gave birth to Ryan’s second child Zach two months later.

Star player: Manchester United footballer Giggs during he Premiere League victory parade through Manchester last month


In June 2008, rumours of the fling had apparently been spreading around Manchester and Natasha is said to have been confronted by one of Ryan’s ex-girlfriends with the question whether it was true.

But as the alleged affair didn’t come out, Rhodri and Natasha finally wed in 2010, but with another pal Will Mellor stepping in as best man instead of Ryan.

The allegations come after Ryan Gigg’s alleged affair with former Miss Wales Imogen Thomas surfaced last month.

The pair are said to have had a six month fling, which Imogen is still prohibited from discussing due to a super-injunction gagging her.

Imogen Thomas was 'upset and shocked' to learn of new allegations about Ryan Giggs and the footballer's superinjunction looks set to become the worst own goal of his career, Max Clifford said.

Giggs was named in Parliament as the footballer alleged to have had an affair with the Big Brother model after frenzied speculation on the internet, despite a High Court injunction.

Today’s allegations that the Man U star had also carried out an eight year affair with his brother's wife Natasha, are said to have truly upset Thomas.

Natasha only came forward after learning of his alleged relationship with Imogen Thomas, said Mr Clifford.

But Imogen Thomas had no plans to reveal their relationship in the first place, and had Giggs not taken out the injunction it would have remained secret, he said.

He said: ‘I spoke to Imogen this morning and I told her she needs to talk to her legal advisors, because a lot of things were put up in court about her which were very damaging.

‘That's what she's doing and she's going to get back to me and let me know what she wants to do.

‘She was upset and shocked [by today's story] and she had absolutely no idea.

‘The irony of it of course is that what came to light it was as a result of taking out an injunction which named Imogen that led to Natasha realising what had been going on.

‘The superinjunction has not only been incredibly damaging for him, but it has led to what has come out in the News of the World today.

‘You wouldn't say it's the greatest goal he's ever scored, would you? A huge own goal comes to mind, or even two own goals, because if he had kept quiet about Imogen Thomas it would never have come out.

‘Instead it led to his sister in law becoming very angry and upset when she found out about it and that led to what came out today in the News of the World.

‘All the superinjunction has done is turn a bad situation into an absolute nightmare.’

Imogen wrote on her Twitter page this afternoon: ‘I just wanna curl up and die today’.


source:dailymail

'Jog on WAG!' Imogen Thomas hits back at Twitter attack from Djibril Cissé's wife

By Andrea Magrath


This means war: Imogen Thomas has hit back at an attack from WAG Jude Cisse, who criticised her actions on Twitter


She's received a hard time in the press and a deluge of abuse from football fans on Twitter.

But so far most WAGs have opted to stay out of the scandal involving Imogen Thomas' affair with married Manchester United player Ryan Giggs.

Now one has spoken out - Jude Cissé has told Miss Thomas over Twitter that she should 'shut up and remained dignified.'


Imogen, in typical form, has not taken the slight lying down. she wrote this morning: 'Dear Mrs Cisse. No body wants to know your opinion. U seem to have a lot of time on ur hands...oh ye! I forgot your a wag!!! Jog on!'

Mrs Cissé, married to Panathinaikos striker Djibril, aired her opinion on the ongoing controversy in a lengthy diatribe on the social networking site.

'Just had a little peek at the online news! Don’t get it,' Jude tweeted, according to the Daily Star.

'How can some girls moan about what the public perception of them are yet still insist on carrying out interviews! Err mm the violins out. U would get a lot more public vote if u shut up & remained dignified!'

Rant: Jude Cissé, married to striker Djibril Cissé, wrote a lengthy diatribe attacking Imogen on Twitter


The WAG protects her tweets from public view, but the rant became public after the paper published them today.

She continued: 'All I’m hearing on the radio is all the infidelity scandals. God, so many people with so many different opinions. What’s your opinion? Want 2 know mine?

'Affairs happen all over the world with every walks of life FACT! To make it public is just wrong.'

'However, I don’t feel sorry for the ones having the affairs especially if the parties involved are aware of the marital status.

Hitting back: The reality star defended herself this morning


'How you can believe it’s more than sex when you only see each other 1 a week & that for only 2hrs at a time in a hotel!

'Why would you want 2 admit 2 the whole world u had an affair? I can only sympathise with the innocent wife & children.'

On Monday a fed-up Imogen wrote on her own page: 'I havent got the energy 2 block the haters. Theres too many. Take a look @ your own lives before you start judging mine. Sad f******!'

But she appeared to cheer up yesterday, after a visit to the Britain's Got Talent set where she rubbed shoulders with Simon Cowell.

WAGS stick together: Jude wrote, 'I can only sympathise with the innocent wife & children' over Imogen's affair with Ryan Giggs


She tweeted happily: 'Ive had the best day 2day for the 1st time in weeks. Defo not turning lesbian...Not really my thing! Night all and thanks for the support x'

Jude married former Liverpool player Djibril Cissé, seven years her junior, at Bodelwyddan Castle in Wales in June 2005.

The couple have two children together, Prince Kobe and Cassius.

they each have a child froem previous relationships - Jude is also mother to Liam while Djibril has daughter Ilona.


source:dailymail

'I called it off a million times... but then I thought he wanted to marry me': Imogen Thomas reveals 'love affair' with Giggs

By Richard Hartley-parkinson


-Imogen claims: 'He knew it was wrong but he kept pursuing me'
-Family says they fear she may commit suicide
-The couple met for secret love trysts in hotels before big matches

What a striker: Imogen Thomas, posing in a Manchester United top, said she tried to end the affair 'a million times' but thought Ryan Giggs wanted to marry her


Reality TV star Imogen Thomas claims she tried to break up with Ryan Giggs several times throughout their six-month affair.

She even thought the footballer would leave his wife Stacey and actually wanted to marry her because he refused to let the affair end and kept coming back.

Miss Thomas, 28, met Giggs - who is now being named thanks to Lib Dem MP John Hemming using parliamentary privilege to identify him on Monday - in hotels throughout their relationship.

Ryan Giggs pictured today on his way to training. Miss Thomas claims he kept pursuing her after their first liaison in a hotel


They even met up in hotels on nights before two crucial matches.

Miss Thomas spoke recently about the pressure she is being put under, saying she has turned to 'three big glasses of wine a night' to cope with it all.

She said that she has not been sleeping well because of an injunction taken out against her and has lost a lot of weight.

Giggs gave the thumbs up to fans last night as he jogged into Old Trafford for Gary Neville's testimonial match

United we stand: Giggs recreates the 'Class of 92' photograph ahead of the game


Talking about her affair with 37-year-old Giggs she said: 'I called it off a million times but he kept coming back. He knew it was wrong as well, he said as much, but he was pursuing me.'

Her family has echoed warnings over her state of mind made by publicist Max Clifford. Her sister Alana went as far as saying that she was frightened her sister might commit suicide.

Miss Thomas, a former Big Brother star, claimed she never intended to sell her story and denies allegations that she was trying to sue Giggs for £100,000.

A friend said: 'Imogen was 100 per cent certain he would leave Stacey and the kids and move in with her. It wasn't a relationship built totally on sex. She thought it went much deeper. She was in love but now she has been left high and dry.'

Their affair began, perhaps inevitably, at a London club one night last September. According to Miss Thomas, Giggs did not initially know who she was.

'We hit it off straight away because we had so much in common,’ she told a Sunday tabloid a little over a month ago.

Miss Thomas's recollection suggests that the Manchester United footballer knew what he was doing and had a clear mind.

'He was quiet and seemed quite sober,' she said. 'Back at the hotel bar we were just chatting about life but I could tell he was interested in me.

'We kissed and I ended up staying the night with him. I knew he was married but I was caught up in the moment and I never thought it was going to go anywhere.'

She claims she tried to end the affair there and then, but he insisted that she give him her number and the following day he called to check she had arrived home safely and subsequently pursued her with a stream of flirty texts.

What followed has filled column inches and called into question the UK's privacy laws which, in the days of Facebook and Twitter, appear outdated.

Last night Giggs made his first public appearance following the revelations about his private life, playing the opening 30 minutes of a testimonial match for Gary Neville.

His wife - who 24 hours earlier was pitch-side cheering him on during family celebrations at Old Trafford - was photographed leaving the couple's £6m home near Manchester without her wedding ring.


source:dailymail

Party's over, Ryan: Giggs leads title celebrations with his family... 24 hours later his extra-marital affair is exposed

By Daily Mail Reporter


Father's pride: Giggs enjoys his record-breaking run with his two children, Zach and Libby as Manchester United celebrated its 12th Premier League win


Less than 24 hours after celebrating the Premier League title Ryan Giggs was back in the headlines.

He was finally named as the man who had tried to cover up an illicit affair with Imogen Thomas - in what had become the internet's worst-kept secret.

After his side were presented with the Premier League trophy at Old Trafford yesterday, the 37-year-old led the onfield celebrations with his two children, Zach and Libby.

But this afternoon his reputation as a family man was rocked when he was finally outed as the high-profile player who had used the courts to keep details of his extra-marital affair a secret.


The revelation - made in Parliament by John Hemmings - will come as a relief to Miss Thomas, who broke down in tears on television over the affair.

The pair allegedly enjoyed a six-month fling, meeting in secret at a string of luxury hotels, it was claimed.

At the time the gagging order was granted, Giggs' agent described the revelations as a shock, saying: ‘This is incredible. I can’t believe it. He is such a family man.

‘I don’t know what to say, knowing the closeness of his family.’

Last month the 28-year-old former Big Brother contestant broke down as she told ITV's This Morning of her regret that she didn't have enough money to get a super-injunction to protect her name.

Struggling to control her emotions, Miss Thomas said: 'I had no intention of ever speaking about the man - I just wish that my name was protected. I didn't have £50,000 to get an injunction.

'I feel like I have been thrown to the lions and told to "deal with it".

Ryan Gigg's wife, Stacey Cooke, laughs during the family celebrations at Old Trafford. Left Imogen Thomas leaving her house in North London


'I'm coping with a lot of stress and pressure on my head at the moment, it has such a terrible experience for me. I've done wrong and I'm paying for it.'

Asked whether she had ever planned to 'sell her story' before she found out about the super-injunction which was granted earlier in April, Miss Thomas tearfully replied: 'I would never have said anything.

'I had no intention of selling my story whatsoever, no intention at all.'

Miss Thomas also had to face allegations from Giggs that she attempted to blackmail him over their affair.

She was said to be furious that he had suggested she demanded money to keep their affair quiet.

Speaking after one High Court hearing, she said: ‘I have read the judgement and I am stunned by how I’m portrayed.

United front: Ryan Giggs with his wife Stacey Cooke arrive at Manchester United's 2011 Player of the Year Awards last Wednesday


'Yet again my name and my reputation are being trashed while the man I had a relationship with is able to hide.

‘What’s more, I can’t even defend myself because I have been gagged. Where’s the fairness in that? What about my reputation?

‘If this is the way privacy injunctions are supposed to work then there’s something seriously wrong with the law.’

After breaking into the Manchester United team in the 1991/92 season Giggs became one of the most respected players in the game.

He made his debut aged 17 as a substitute against Everton, and two months later scored the winner against Manchester City at Old Trafford on his full debut.

Nineteen years on and he is considered by many to be the 'golden boy' of football and it was all smiles for him and his two children on the pitch as they celebrated his record-breaking run.

Throughout his career he has made the most Premier League appearances and is the only one to have scored in all the campaigns since it was created.

In 2007 he was awarded the OBE and it was commented then that the award would no doubt have taken into account his charity work, aiding the campaign to rid football of racism, plus his role as a Unicef representative working to eliminate the use of land mines.

In September that year he married long-time partner Stacey Cooke in a ceremony attended by close relatives and friends. The couple's children, Liberty and Zach, were part of the congregation.

Speaking after winning the Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2009 he said: 'I've been lucky enough to win a lot of things in my career, playing with great players and playing under the greatest manager who has ever lived, I've played for the greatest club, this is up there.'

Explaining how he kept up his level of performance despite his advancing years, Giggs said: 'Desire, looking after myself. I'm enjoying my football more than ever and I think that's reflected in my play.'

It remains to be seen whether his reputation - and marriage - can survive this final twist in his career.

Miss Thomas's television tears came after a High Court hearing the previous day over the injunction that protected Giggs




source:dailymail