A MARRIAGE guidance counsellor today reminded high-profile people that they have a responsibility to their families in the wake of the Garry Flitcroft affair.

And Denise Knowles, a counsellor and psycho-sexual therapist with Relate, said the healing process when one partner had been unfaithful, was so much more difficult for 'famous' couples.

Mrs Knowles was speaking after Blackburn Rovers skipper was revealed as the Premiership footballer who tried to ban the Press from revealing his identity following alleged affairs with a lapdancer and a nursery nurse.

His identity was revealed after an order banning him being named ended last weekend, despite the player spending £200,000 fighting to remain anonymous.

Although she declined to speak specifically about Flitcroft's marriage to childhood sweetheart Karen she said: "Generally, when you have somebody in the limelight, a lot of their private life becomes public property which puts a lot of strain on a relationship.

"Of course when someone is unfaithful it can have a devastating effect upon a relationship, but when it is being played out in the public eye, everyone has an opinion, which makes it more difficult."

Flitcroft and his wife, who live in Bolton and have two children, have remained silent on the subject although the Rovers midfielder seems to have got the support of fans who chanted his name and gave him a standing ovation at Monday's clash with Southampton.

But Mrs Knowles warned that the trust built up between couples disappears "in the click of a finger" when there has been infidelity

She said: "All trust between the couple is wiped out and it can take years for it to come back and in some cases it may never come back.

"The relationship that the couple had will never be the same again. It is all about rebuilding a whole new relationship. It will take an enormous amount of effort, both will have to build up their self-esteem.

"If there children involved and the couple are in the public eye, there has to be a large amount of responsibility on their shoulders. They owe it to their children to do their best they can by them."