'You're keeping control of the knife': Cheryl Fernandez Versini posts cryptic Instagram picture after Sarah Harding rants about being snubbed by Girls Aloud

Just hours after it was claimed Sarah Harding was snubbed by Cheryl Fernandez Versini, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts it appears Cheryl has hit back.

The Geordie singer posted what appeared to be a thinly-veiled response to Sarah's claims she 'didn't get a f***ing invite' to Nicola's 30th birthday bash to her Instagram page. 

Along with the throwback snap, taken from a Girls Aloud tour in 2008, Cheryl wrote: '#Tbt Tangled up tour.. you're keeping control of the knife #2008 #memories.'

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Cryptic: Cheryl Fernandez Versini posted this throwback snap to her Instagram page along with the caption: 'You're keeping control of the knife' after Sarah Harding ranted about her, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts

The mysterious post came just a day after Cheryl made her Instagram account private, following a rant following criticism over her shape.

It appears Cheryl has become fed up with trolls posting negative comments to her social networking page, which boasts more than 1.7million followers.

Cheryl's seemingly controversial post led to speculation she was addressing Sarah's claims that relationships between herself and the other girls had broken down.

On Thursday it was claimed Sarah was left furious after she wasn't invited to Nicola's milestone 30th bash, which was attended by Cheryl and Kimberley, at Hotel Chantelle in Mayfair on Sunday night.

Uninvited: Sarah Harding has claimed that she wasn't invited to former band mate Nicola Robert's 30th birthday party last week 

Uninvited: Sarah Harding has claimed that she wasn't invited to former band mate Nicola Robert's 30th birthday party last week 

'I didn't get a f***ing invite to Nicola's birthday!' Sarah told The Sun, adding: 'I nearly tweeted about it but I thought I better not. If I had an invite I wouldn't have gone, but I didn't.' 

'Relations were good between us until I didn't get an invite. I can't see a Girls Aloud reunion any time soon, let's put it that way.' 

Sarah also suggested that Nadine Coyle, who lives in LA, also didn't get an invite to the party. 

Three's not a crowd: Cheryl Fernandez Versini and Kimberley Walsh were on hand to help Nicola celebrate 

Three's not a crowd: Cheryl Fernandez Versini and Kimberley Walsh were on hand to help Nicola celebrate 

In happier times: Girls Aloud, pictured in 2004, just two years after they formed on Pop Idol The Rivals. The band went on hiatus in 2008 before reforming but finally split in 2013

In happier times: Girls Aloud, pictured in 2004, just two years after they formed on Pop Idol The Rivals. The band went on hiatus in 2008 before reforming but finally split in 2013

It's clear that Nicola, Kimberley and Cheryl share a close bond and the trio regularly spend time together.

The threesome even arrived at the Pride of Britain Awards together last month and are often tagged in one another's Instagram pictures.  

Girls Aloud, who were formed in 2002 on reality show Pop Stars The Rivals, announced their final split in 2013, but rumours of friction between band members have been swirling for years. 

Flying solo: On Tuesday night Sarah attended a Specsavers event on her own, just days after she was snubbed from Nicola's birthday
Lacey lady: Sarah wore a racy black dress to event in London on Tuesday

Flying solo: On Tuesday night Sarah attended a Specsavers event on her own, just days after she was snubbed from Nicola's birthday. She claims Nadine Coyle was also uninvited to the birthday party

Last year Cheryl even branded Nadine 'full of s***' during an interview with Attitude magazine. 

Addressing claims from Nadine that the Irish singer didn't want the girl band to break up Cheryl said: 'She’s full of s**t. What d’you want us to say? She’s full of s**t.' 

In 2013 Kimberley admitted in her Autobiography that she didn't 'relate' to Nadine anymore. 

Speaking about Nadine's decision to move to America during the band's hiatus in 2009, Kimberley wrote: 'In the end I felt like there was no common ground between us and I just didn’t know how to relate to her anymore — none of us did.” 

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