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SUPPORT: Ashley Cole has reportedly jumped to the defence of ex wife, Cheryl

ASHLEY COLE has jumped to the defence of ex-wife, Cheryl, after So Solid Crew's MC Harvey claimed he had a 'relationship' with the singer.

Cole, who split from the Girls Aloud star in 2010, is rumoured to have told friends that he believed Harvey, who reached the height of fame with popular garage collective in 2001, was using her as a desperate attempt to to get back in to the limelight.

A source, said to be close to the Chelsea footballer, is believed to have told The Daily Star that Cole was fully aware of the men Cheryl spent time with following their divorce - Black Eyed Peas' star Will.i.Am and American dancer, Derek Hough.

Earlier this week Harvey told Now magazine that he and the Fight For This Love star had a secret affair.

"There was a relationship and an attraction to each other's aura. I am not going to sit here and say we went to that restaurant and this restaurant. But I'm sure people aren't stupid," he said.

He continued: "We've known each other for years. But then (after Cheryl split with Ashley) we started confiding in each other. A lot of it was like, 'We can't trust anyone out there, so we're just going to trust each other."

After the interview broke, Harvey and Cheryl became embroiled in a heated exchange on Twitter, with the 27-year-old singer and former X Factor judge strongly refuting the south London MC's claims.

"Was this "relationship" happening in your head @harveyofficial ?! Are you smoking something ?..[sic]," she tweeted.

Harvey then threatened to release private emails the pair allegedly exchanged.

Ashley and Cheryl were married for four years before she filed for divorce following allegations that he had been cheating with several women.