Leigh-Anne Pinnock: Marriage Stronger After Betrayal

says her marriage to Andre Gray is 'stronger' after the beleaguered footballer addressed an undisclosed 'betrayal' by turning to therapy and working his way through a period of 'self-reflection.'

The former star had previously revealed how she had lost trust in Port Vale striker Andre after a transgression on his part left her 'heartbroken' - less than two years after the couple exchanged vows in Jamaica. 

But Pinnock, 34, who raises four-year old twins with the Championship footballer, says they have finally been able to resolve their issues after Gray, 34, sought professional help.

She told PEOPLE: 'The main thing for me was him just changing, really. He got therapy, he moved abroad as well. 

'Even just him being alone, he did so much self-reflection on that. That was a massive thing for us. I think he just did the work.' 

The well travelled Gray is back in England after a year long spell with Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük S.K. His colourful career has also included brief spells with Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki and Saudi Arabian side Al-Riyadh.

Not without irony, Pinnock believes his various stints with overseas clubs were another key factor in the couple managing to salvage their marriage.  

'A big thing for us is distance,' said Pinnock. 'As s**t as it is, it's been three years of long distance. 

'It's actually, I think, helped to keep the flame alight as well, you know? You can't wait to see them. It's actually really healthy to miss someone, I think.' 

His return to the UK with Stoke-On-Trent based Port Vale means he will be closer to his family, and Pinnock says they can now look ahead to a more optimistic future.   

'It really does mean a lot when you can go through something, come out the other end, and just you automatically become stronger for it,' she said.

'Now, obviously, we've been through our stuff. We're married, we have kids, and we can just have a soft life.' 

Speaking to Paloma Faith on her Mad Sad Bad podcast in January, Pinnock hinted at difficulties in her marriage by revealing she had been betrayed by the footballer. 

She said: 'I went through a bit of a weird time with my husband actually and I think that sort of not being totally honest and losing trust and that kind of betrayal. 

'I think like heartbreak is wild, like it's awful and especially someone that you're so madly in love with and that they can hurt you.'

The singer explained how footballer Gray realised he was being 'selfish' after he moved abroad to Greece to play for Aris Thessaloniki. 

She continued: 'Well, I think that person has to want to change and he did.  And I think you can go through things in relationship, but if they aren't willing to change for you, forget it. 

'They have to do the work and they have to turn it around because again it's not you, it's not on you. 

'He went to therapy and I think for us what really helped for us, he started playing abroad and he had more time to himself to kind of look and realise that everything that he was doing was not how you make a relationship work, it's not. It's selfish.' 

When asked what she learnt about her last heartbreak, Pinnock admitted she is still with the person who broke her heart. 

She said: 'I learnt the power of forgiveness. I'm still with the person who broke my heart and he went out of his way to change for me.

'I think if you can actually get to the other side and make it through it, it makes it all worthwhile.

'Some people might say, oh well why are you still with them? or why are you still giving them another chance? I guess that can be seen as a weakness and not putting yourself first but I think only you know what is truly right for you.'

Pinnock went onto say the couple got through the 'struggles' and now they are in a 'really beautiful place'.

She continued: 'If that person can really show that they want to change, you cannot change somebody but if they go out of their way to change themselves I really do think that kind of tells you everything you need to know.

'For me personally I had to go through these struggles and things in our relationship to get to the point where we are now, which is a really beautiful place.'