Chelsea axe player over smoke bomb

CHELSEA midfielder Jacob Mellis has left the club “by mutual consent” after he admitted setting off a smoke grenade at their training ground.

The Blues confirmed they and 21-year-old Mellis had “parted company” following a “full and thorough” investigation into the incident on 2 March.

Team-mate Billy Clifford escaped with a fine after admitting he brought the grenade – understood to be from a paintball expedition – into Chelsea’s Cobham training headquarters.

Clifford, 19, is a regular in Chelsea’s reserves and signed a new four-year deal last summer. Mellis, 21, joined from Sheffield United five years ago and made his debut in the Champions League win against Zilina in November 2010.

According to reports, the smoke grenade was set off in the reserve-team dressing-room and trained fire marshals had to be brought in. Players, officials and other staff from Chelsea’s reserve, youth and academy teams ran from the building with hands covering their faces because of the thick smoke.

Last February, Ashley Cole accidentally shot and wounded a work experience student with an air rifle. And, late last year, a knife was discovered by cleaning staff in a dressing room at the complex.