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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Vicki Newman & Mia O'Hare

Inside Real Housewives star Leanne's split as footballer ex Wes Brown declared bankrupt

Real Housewives of Cheshire star Leanne Wassell split from her footballer husband Wes Brown after 12 years of marriage - before the footballer was declared bankrupt.

The Former England and Manchester United star has been declared bankrupt at the High Court after HMRC filed a bankruptcy petition against the former Red’s defender.

Wes earnt £50,000 a week whilst at Old Trafford and lived locally with his reality TV star wife.

The couple are believed to have secretly split in 2021, with news of their breakup emerging last year.

Leanne, 46, removed her wedding ring and Wes, 43, moved out of the mansion they shared with their three children.

Wes and Leanne are said to have split after 12 years of marriage (WireImage)
Leanne stars in Real Housewives of Cheshire (WireImage)

They had been together for more than 20 years and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Peckforton Castle near Tarporley, Cheshire, in 2009.

A source told The Sun : "Wes and Leanne split before Christmas. There were no third parties involved; it is just a sad fact that their marriage has run its course.

"Leanne has flourished in single life and has removed her wedding ring.

"She has told people she feels free and is working hard on her businesses and flourishing as an independent woman."

The insider added that Wes is "carrying on as best he can" and that they're doing their best to co-parent their kids, Halle, 19, Lilia, 14, and Lola, 11.

Leanne hinted at the breakdown of her marriage in a cryptic Instagram post.

Alongside a picture of her without her wedding ring, she wrote: "When you realise that the one relationship in your life that needs the most attention, love, kindness, respect and compassion, is the one with yourself, your life will improve dramatically."

Leanne is close friends with Coleen Rooney, but was absent from her husband Wayne's recent documentary premiere, which Wes attended alone.

The reality star spoke about the "lovely life" she and Wes had together in 2019.

She said at the time: "Yes we’ve got a lovely life and all this money and I’m not saying the money isn’t great, but when you’re in it you’re living in this bubble.

"Although the fans can be amazing they can also be very cruel.

"It must be hard [for footballers] to deal with to be on top one minute and hated the next for a bad kick or missing the goal.

"We are the ones that are left to pick up the pieces and bear the brunt of whatever is left at the end of their careers.

"Sometimes it’s hard being alone a lot. The lads are away a lot, especially if involved in a high profile club and England international too."

In 2016 the couple slashed the price of their previous home, a mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire, to £2.4milion, after it had been put on the market six years earlier for £4.5million.

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