By Richard Hartley-parkinson


Ryan Giggs pictured as a boy with his father, Danny Wilson, who said he was disappointed in his son


Despite walking out on his own family 20 years ago, Ryan Giggs's father broke his silence to say how disappointed he is with his son over his affair with Imogen Thomas.

Danny Wilson, 55, spoke out about the relationship - the first time he has spoken publicly about his son after refusing to do so to protect his Manchester united career.

Mr Wilson said: 'Ryan is looked upon as clean living, almost beyond reproach. Now he's shown to have human frailties the same as the rest of us.


'I didn't think Ryan was like that,' he told the Sun. 'He is an iconic footballer who has achieved fantastic things. I had him on a pedestal. I'm immensely proud.

'But I am deeply disappointed at what Ryan has done, particularly as he has a young family. I'm sad for the effect it's going to have on them. His mother will be devastated.'

Following a difficult start to life, Giggs's fortunes were turned around thanks to the support and leadership of his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson

Speaking about his son's affair broke a 20 year silence in which Mr Wilson has never spoken about Giggs


When Mr Wilson, an ex-rugby league star, walked out on his family, Giggs disowned him and adopted his mother's surname.

Although he insists the split was not because of another woman, Mr Wilson was regarded as a womaniser whose career was curtailed by heavy drinking and crime, including a six-month jail stretch for attacking a police officer.

Thankfully for Giggs, Sir Alex became a father figure in his life and gave him direction. He even sees his father, but admits that things will never be the same again.

Mr Wilson, whose parents are from Sierra Leone and is now a security guard, said Giggs should have 'manned up', admitted the affair and apologised for it right from the start.

He also thinks the decision to take out an injunction was a bad one and he was badly advised.

If he had come clean from the beginning, Mr Wilson said, 'no one would be talking about it now. He's made it ten times worse.

'I'd be surprised if Sir Alex Ferguson told him to take out the injunction - it was probably other people around Ryan.'

Speaking two years ago about his relationship with his father, Giggs said: 'Everyone's childhood shapes who they are and what they do, and it was two sides of the story with my dad.

'I didn't like the relationship he had with my mum but there was another side where I looked up to him. My dad was my first hero.

'I think my parent's split may have contributed to that inner steel where I can block things out.

'When I was playing football, I never thought about the arguments between my mum and dad. I get on with my dad but I’m not going to let myself get close to him again because it would hurt my mum and people who mean a lot to me.’

Stacey Giggs was photographed arriving at Old Trafford for a family day at the weekend but yesterday she was seen without her wedding ring


source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Father's pride: Giggs enjoys his record-breaking run with his two children, Zach and Libby as Manchester United celebrated its 12th Premier League win


Less than 24 hours after celebrating the Premier League title Ryan Giggs was back in the headlines.

He was finally named as the man who had tried to cover up an illicit affair with Imogen Thomas - in what had become the internet's worst-kept secret.

After his side were presented with the Premier League trophy at Old Trafford yesterday, the 37-year-old led the onfield celebrations with his two children, Zach and Libby.

But this afternoon his reputation as a family man was rocked when he was finally outed as the high-profile player who had used the courts to keep details of his extra-marital affair a secret.


The revelation - made in Parliament by John Hemmings - will come as a relief to Miss Thomas, who broke down in tears on television over the affair.

The pair allegedly enjoyed a six-month fling, meeting in secret at a string of luxury hotels, it was claimed.

At the time the gagging order was granted, Giggs' agent described the revelations as a shock, saying: ‘This is incredible. I can’t believe it. He is such a family man.

‘I don’t know what to say, knowing the closeness of his family.’

Last month the 28-year-old former Big Brother contestant broke down as she told ITV's This Morning of her regret that she didn't have enough money to get a super-injunction to protect her name.

Struggling to control her emotions, Miss Thomas said: 'I had no intention of ever speaking about the man - I just wish that my name was protected. I didn't have £50,000 to get an injunction.

'I feel like I have been thrown to the lions and told to "deal with it".

Ryan Gigg's wife, Stacey Cooke, laughs during the family celebrations at Old Trafford. Left Imogen Thomas leaving her house in North London


'I'm coping with a lot of stress and pressure on my head at the moment, it has such a terrible experience for me. I've done wrong and I'm paying for it.'

Asked whether she had ever planned to 'sell her story' before she found out about the super-injunction which was granted earlier in April, Miss Thomas tearfully replied: 'I would never have said anything.

'I had no intention of selling my story whatsoever, no intention at all.'

Miss Thomas also had to face allegations from Giggs that she attempted to blackmail him over their affair.

She was said to be furious that he had suggested she demanded money to keep their affair quiet.

Speaking after one High Court hearing, she said: ‘I have read the judgement and I am stunned by how I’m portrayed.

United front: Ryan Giggs with his wife Stacey Cooke arrive at Manchester United's 2011 Player of the Year Awards last Wednesday


'Yet again my name and my reputation are being trashed while the man I had a relationship with is able to hide.

‘What’s more, I can’t even defend myself because I have been gagged. Where’s the fairness in that? What about my reputation?

‘If this is the way privacy injunctions are supposed to work then there’s something seriously wrong with the law.’

After breaking into the Manchester United team in the 1991/92 season Giggs became one of the most respected players in the game.

He made his debut aged 17 as a substitute against Everton, and two months later scored the winner against Manchester City at Old Trafford on his full debut.

Nineteen years on and he is considered by many to be the 'golden boy' of football and it was all smiles for him and his two children on the pitch as they celebrated his record-breaking run.

Throughout his career he has made the most Premier League appearances and is the only one to have scored in all the campaigns since it was created.

In 2007 he was awarded the OBE and it was commented then that the award would no doubt have taken into account his charity work, aiding the campaign to rid football of racism, plus his role as a Unicef representative working to eliminate the use of land mines.

In September that year he married long-time partner Stacey Cooke in a ceremony attended by close relatives and friends. The couple's children, Liberty and Zach, were part of the congregation.

Speaking after winning the Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2009 he said: 'I've been lucky enough to win a lot of things in my career, playing with great players and playing under the greatest manager who has ever lived, I've played for the greatest club, this is up there.'

Explaining how he kept up his level of performance despite his advancing years, Giggs said: 'Desire, looking after myself. I'm enjoying my football more than ever and I think that's reflected in my play.'

It remains to be seen whether his reputation - and marriage - can survive this final twist in his career.

Miss Thomas's television tears came after a High Court hearing the previous day over the injunction that protected Giggs




source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Scroll down to see a video of the photoshoot

Cheeky girl: Imogen Thomas has returned to work – in Manchester United kit promoting Paddy Power’s offer on the Champions League Final. Paddy Power will refund losing bets if United lose the match


Imogen Thomas has cashed in on her affair with Ryan Giggs with a high-profile ad campaign that could ensure it is not just football on his mind on Saturday night.

Given the distractions he has had this week, the Manchester United star will no doubt be pleased to focus his attention on trying to claim a third Champions League winner's medal with his club.

But one bookie has teamed up with the former Big Brother contestant for an eye-catching photoshoot that may mean Giggs has more than Barcelona to be wary of at Wembley.

The ad campaign posters carry the slogan: 'Imogen can't keep quiet about this!'


The Big Brother, star who had an affair with the footballer, took part in the shoot - dressed in a United shirt - with betting website Paddy Power for this Saturday's match. She is believed to have been paid a high five-figure sum for the ad campaign.

The bookie has refused to reveal the details of the campaign that they will be carrying out at the weekend, but it is believed there could be some high-profile trickery, including distracting pitchside displays.

A video filmed during the photoshoot appeared briefly on YouTube stating: 'As Giggs name was mentioned in the House of Commons, Imogen Thomas was on a photoshoot at Paddy Power.'

Revenge: The odds that 'Imogen' will be the first catchphrase to be used by ITV presenters are currently at 25/1. She is pictured right arriving at her lawyer's office.


The video may have proved too cheeky, however, as by the afternoon it disappeared. Another couple of hours later and it had been put up again after 'technical difficulties'

Showing Miss Thomas in various different poses, the video added: 'This photoshoot is the easiest gig she has ever had.'

It's all part of an offer whereby people betting on the match will get their money back if Barcelona wins in 90 minutes at the Champions League final at Wembley.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: 'With such an offer who else could we choose to front our advertising than Imogen Thomas - the most talked about woman in Britain this week.

'We did consider the Middleton sisters - but they were otherwise engaged.'

Special bets have also been put on relating to Giggs specifically with 7/1 odds that he scores and 72 that he is caught offside during the match.

There is also a 'commentary cliché' special for betting on the first phrase from a list to be used by ITV commentators.

Favourite at 3/1 is the mention of '2009' followed by 'Bobby Charlton' - who scored two goals in the Wembley 1968 final - at 8/1. But then there is 'Imogen' at 25/1 and coming in at odds of 40/1 is the phrase 'Giggs has been caught offside'.

Final preparations are made to the pitch at Wembley Stadium for the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United on Saturday


Darren Haines from the bookmakers declined to say how much Miss Thomas had been paid for the advertising campaign but did say it was a one off.

When asked if there would be mischief made during this weekend's match by the bookies, he said: 'We wouldn't really discuss our promotional campaigns.'

The company has got into hot water in the past over its advertising campaigns. An advert showing a group of disabled people fleeing from an Indian restaurant without paying.

Another - the most complained about advert of 2010 - showed 'blind' footballers using a ball with a bell inside it. When a cat wearing a bell round its neck runs onto the pitch, however, one of the players kicks it over a fence and into a tree.

Man United fans will be hoping Ryan Giggs can maintain his focus on Saturday's Champions League final

Though Giggs got a warm reception from the fans, the strain of his complicated love life was etched clearly on his face on the field at Old Trafford




source:dailymail