Top footballer trades in X-Factor wife for married woman months after wedding

Love-split ex-England and Manchester United football star Alan Smith wasted no time getting his romantic life back on course – with a married used car dealer, says Sunday Mirror.

Reports last week indicated Smith was dumped by his X-Factor dancer wife, Kristina Macmillan, just months after wedding in a glitzy ceremony.

After giving up the ship on his marriage, the 34-year-old soccer ace is now seeing businesswoman Sarah Cox, who he met at the gym.

Cox is 43 – 14 years older than Smith’s ex-wife, Kristina – and runs her own car sales firm near Lowdham, outside Nottingham, Mirror says.

Friends say Smith’s skyrocketed love transfer has distressed Kristina. They had been together since 2011.

A friend said: “For Alan to move on so soon is a kick in the guts. Kristina is struggling to get her head around it.”

Kristina, who has performed with Take That and Kylie Minogue, was already heartbroken by the acrimonious split.

Smith’s new romance with Sarah has left her family befuddled. Her husband Mark has stayed at the family home in Nottingham, but declined to comment.

A friend said: “Mark is obviously angry. Who wouldn’t be? But when you’ve got kids and a business, unfortunately you can’t sit around and mope. Obviously it’s not a good time, but you’ve got to cope and get on with it, and he’s busy working.”

Smith wed Kristina in June and their lavish union ceremony at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire featured in the glossy Wedding Ideas magazine.

It’s understood Alan first met Sarah in mid 2014. Friends of Sarah’s family disclosed her husband has spoken to Alan’s wife to discuss their shock.

Kristina’s friends have insisted there is zero chance of saving their relationship, adding: “Kristina has made it clear she won’t tolerate what has happened.

“She kicked him out and that was final for her. They’re now only speaking via lawyers. It’s a very sad end considering they’ve known each other eight years and dated for four, but she’s too hurt by it all.”

Alan played 19 times for England and scored seven goals in 61 appearances for Manchester United.

He also starred at Leeds and Newcastle and is now at Notts County, who play just nine miles from his Sarah’s car lot.