They said "drop him or else!"
So now we have sponsors telling the manager who he can and who he cannot pick!
The property website has announced it will not seek to continue backing the club after this season.
Zoopla was unhappy at the continuing presence of Anelka in the team while his actions were investigated by the Football Association.
It was also claimed that Zoopla had requested Anelka play in an unbranded shirt during the Baggies' Barclays Premier League game against Everton on Monday night.
There has been no confirmation of that but the company, which is co-owned by Jewish businessman Alex Chesterton, is to end its support after its obligations for this season end.
A statement from the company read: "Zoopla has been reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, during the match against West Ham over the Christmas period and has decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season."
Lawrence Hall, head of communications for Zoopla, said: "Through our sponsorship of West Bromwich Albion we are pleased to have supported the local community and charities.
"In recent weeks, however, we have decided to re-evaluate this sponsorship and as a result we will focus our attention on other marketing activities from the end of the season."
The FA launched an investigation after Anelka sparked controversy by performing the quenelle gesture as he celebrated scoring at West Ham on December 28.
The gesture, which has caused outrage in Anelka's native France, has been declared by some to be anti-Semitic or racist.
Anelka denied he was being anti-Semitic or racist and said he did it in support of his friend Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, a controversial anti-establishment comedian.
Since beginning its investigation, the FA has made no comment other than to state an independent expert has been used during its probe.
The governing body has faced criticism for the length of time its investigation has taken but it had pledged to be thorough.
It is thought there could be an outcome this week, with the possibility Anelka, 34, could face a ban.
ANELKA CHARGED BY FA ...
Nicolas Anelka has been charged by the Football Association over his controversial 'quenelle' goal celebration.
West Brom's French striker is facing a minimum five-match ban under new FA rules after the gesture, which some say is an inverted Nazi salute and has anti-Semitic connotations.
Anelka has been charged with making a improper gesture and that it was an aggravated breach, in that it included "a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief."
Anelka, who has denied the goal celebration was intended to be anti-Semitic, made the quenelle salute after scoring in the 3-3 draw against West Ham on December 28.
The FA said in a statement: "The FA has charged the West Bromwich Albion player Nicolas Anelka following an incident that occurred during the West Ham United versus West Bromwich Albion fixture at the Boleyn Ground on 28 December 2013.
"It is alleged that, in the 40th minute of the fixture, Anelka made a gesture which was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA Rule E3[1].
"It is further alleged that this is an aggravated breach, as defined in FA Rule E3[2], in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief."
Anelka has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.
West Brom's shirt sponsor Zoopla, an online property search engine, said on Monday it would not be renewing its deal at the end of the season because of the incident.
Anelka has agreed not to perform the salute again after the club accepted it had caused some offence but there has been no apology from the player.
He has insisted the quenelle was a gesture in support of his friend, the controversial French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who has been prosecuted for anti-Semitism.
The FA brought in an expert to help decide on whether charges should be brought and has spent several weeks working on the case due to its sensitivity.
A three-man independent regulatory commission will now be appointed to deal with the case - either to decide on the sanction if Anelka admits the charge or to hold a disciplinary hearing if he denies it.