The mutual friend in the middle of the footballer wives feud

The ex-partner of a UK footballer says she is caught in the middle of the lingering feud between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, saying she is friends with both of them.

Anne Kilner, who recently broke up with the father of her three children, Kyle Walker, following an infidelity scandal, has been friends with both Rooney and Vardy for years — well before their much-publicised fight, which has now gone legal.

The falling-out started in October when Rooney, 34, accused Vardy of selling stories about her to The Sun, a claim Vardy denies.

Kilner tells The Sun she is "stuck in the middle" of the conflict, saying, "it's not nice to see this play out". She doesn't think the pair will ever be able to repair their relationship.

"I can't ever see a time when they could be in the same room as each other," she adds.

"The friendship they had is over. Even if it is resolved in the High Court this will rumble on forever."

Rooney, who is married to Derby County player Wayne Rooney, deduced Vardy was sourcing stories from private Instagram account by limiting who could see her posts.

"For a few years now someone who I trusted to follow me on my personal Instagram account has been consistently informing The Sun newspaper of my private posts and stories," she explained in her initial social media post on October.

"There has been so much information given to them about me, my friends and my family - all without my permission or knowledge.

"After a long time of trying to figure out who it could be, for various reasons, I had a suspicion. To try and prove this, I came up with an idea, I blocked everyone from viewing Instagram except ONE account."

Rooney said she knew for certain who it was, saying: "I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person has viewed them. It's......... Rebekah Vardy's account.

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"This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have got to the bottom of it......"

Vardy, 38, who is married to Leicester City player Jamie Vardy, denied the accusation.

"Can't believe I'm even having to write this. I'm pregnant & on holiday & am at a loss to why she would do this," she wrote in response.

Vardy threatened to sue Rooney with defamation, with Rooney reportedly saying she would counter-sue.

In May, the pair took their dispute to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), however they weren't able to resolve the matter. The next step is going to a higher court.

There are reports Rooney fired her legal team early this month, and if she and Vardy continue to take the legal path, the cost could run into the millions.