British singer Cheryl Cole still considers her ex-husband Ashley Cole a friend, despite ending their marriage over rumours of his infidelity.

The Girls Aloud beauty called time on her four-year marriage to the soccer star in 2010 after a string of reports about his cheating emerged in the press.

Cheryl fell into a deep depression after their romance ended, and she even turned to alcohol in a bid to deal with her heartache - but she now admits that she has reconciled with Ashley behind closed doors.

The pop star fears the sportsman's reputation was ruined after their split, and is now speaking out to set the record straight.

She tells Britain's Glamour magazine, "There's this perception that Ashley's an arrogant p**ck, but he's really not. We talk occasionally and I would say we are friends."

Cheryl is now dating her back-up dancer Tre Holloway.