Anelka leaves West Brom with immediate effect

Anelka is reported to have left West Brom with immediate effect

Has he walked?

Not sure, I bet it was mutual agreement...

Nicolas Anelka has taken to Twitter to announce that he has terminated his contract with West Brom after failing to appeal against his five-match ban for performing the quenelle gesture.
The French striker, whose deal at the Hawthorns runs out this summer, explained his decision in a series of tweets early on Friday evening.

Roughly translated, Anelka tweeted: 'Following discussions between the club and me, proposals have been made to me that I rejoined the group under certain conditions.
'I cannot accept. Wishing to keep my integrity, so I decided to free myself and to terminate the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion until 2014, and now.'

Anelka is only eligible for the Baggies' last five games of the season but the club are yet to confirm the former Arsenal star's claims.

On Thursday the Football Association decided against appealing against the length of Anelka’s five-match ban, issued by an independent commission for his anti-Semitic gesture.
Anelka is understood to have also accepted the ruling which means his suspension now begins, starting with West Bromwich Albion’s match at Swansea on Saturday.
The FA were considering an appeal to obtain an increase to the ban, which was the minimum that could be handed out based on the governing body’s new rules overseeing offences of a racist nature.

West Brom’s own investigation into the Frenchman’s actions is still ongoing, with a conclusion expected next week. The club had not ruled out sacking the player for his quenelle gesture.
An FA statement read: ‘Having carefully considered the written reasons of the Independent Regulatory Commission together with our appointed QC, The FA can confirm it will not be appealing the sanction imposed on Nicolas Anelka.
‘The grounds of appeal available to us are limited to legal challenges or to circumstances in which the sanction imposed is “so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable.”
‘As the written reasons make clear, The FA pressed the Commission at the original hearing to impose a suspension of greater than five matches.
‘We do not consider there is a real prospect of successfully appealing to extend the sanction imposed.’


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2581204/Nicolas-Anelka-claims-hes-terminated-contract-West-Brom-failing-appeal-five-game-ban-quenelle-gesture.html

Seems he may not have left just yet...

The Baggies statement read: "The Club confirms it has been continuing discussions with Nicolas Anelka and his advisers as part of its own internal enquiry into the gesture he made after scoring against West Ham United on December 28.

"Following the conclusion of the FA's enquiry into the same incident, the Club had hoped to conclude its own investigations next week.

"The Club notes Nicolas Anelka's comments on Twitter this evening (Friday). However, the club has received nothing formally regarding the termination of Nicolas Anelka's contract from either him or his advisers.

"The Club regards the release of such a statement on Social Media as highly unprofessional and will make a further statement when appropriate."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11698/9214015/transfer-news-west-brom-deny-nicolas-anelka-claim

That the guy's turned out to be a complete scumbag is a real shame for us.

I used to really like that he once wore the shirt.

Not so much now.

Second time he's quit west brom.

I'm sure I posted an update in this thread the other day!  

Edit: Seems like I put the follow up article in the "Anelka - Worth a punt?" thread