Ashley Cole, Cheryl Cole Split Payouts Being Made

Paddy Power had Ashley Cole and Cheryl Cole the favorite to be the first celebrity couple split earlier this week.  To date, she is sticking by her man but many believe this bet is a "lock".  The British bookmaker, William Hill, has even decided to grade bets on the couple's breakup a win and make payouts, a result of the Chelsea player's alleged infidelities. 

Cheryl Cole was seen performing at the Brits without her wedding ring on.

Spokeswoman for William Hill, Rupert Adams, said the company decided to pay out on the Coles split since they believe it is inevitable.

"William Hill see no reason for punters to hold on to their betting slips if they have backed Ashley and Cheryl to split this year.

"In their opinion it is a done deal and they are happy to hand over the winnings now."

BetUS.com won't be so quick to pay out these bets however.  After all, the couple's relationship has been on the rocks for years now with Ashley's alleged improprieties and womanizing well documented in British tabloids.

On Sunday, London's News of the World beamed with the headline "I Can't Lose My Wife Over This:  If I Do, I Don't Want To Live" and "Sex Cheat Ashley Begged Me To Lie".

From the News of the World:

"SNIVELLING love rat Ashley Cole sobbed down the phone to his American one-night stand as he suddenly realised their secret fling was in danger of being exposed.

"Desperate to hide the affair from long-suffering wife Cheryl he rang lover Ann Corbitt in a panic again and again, begging her to stay quiet about their wild four hours of sex in a Seattle hotel room.

"In tears, the Chelsea and England star pleaded: ‘I can't lose my wife over this. If I lose my wife, I don't want to live.'"

The woman Ashley allegedly slept with added: "He was most vehement that I was the first person he'd cheated with. . . since the last time he got caught!"

Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com