By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE PRESIDENT of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA), Everton Tomlinson, was given the go ahead to continue to lead the administration by delegates at a meeting held at Mannings School in Sav-la-Mar on Tuesday night.
A press release from the WFA stated yesterday that "17 of the 24 affiliates who were present unanimously assured the WFA of their confidence in the executive of the association and it's president, Everton Tomlinson and has given them the green light to continue to work hard to develop football in the parish".
The WFA executive and, in particular, Tomlinson had been coming under severe pressure from factions within the parish seeking his removal and an extra-ordinary General Meeting for the purpose of electing a new executive.
A group calling itself 'Affiliates of the Westmoreland FA' had circulated a petition seeking the signatures of affiliates of the WFA to force the calling of the meeting.
The WFA press release said the association would pursue legal action against the 'Affiliates' which includes "persons who have been banned by the WFA and the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation)".
The rift in the parish occurred after a dispute between Western Strikers Football Company Limited (WSFCL), the company that formerly managed the parish's Premier League club Reno, and some players and officials.
WSFCL was removed from that position by the JFF during a meeting held in Montego Bay over a week ago which centred around the ownership of the 30-year-old club.
Meanwhile, at Tuesday's meeting it was announced that WSFCL would provide outfits for all 12 clubs taking part in the Westmoreland Division One which is scheduled to start on February 6.
The release said that Member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland, the Hon. Dr. Carl Blythe would again sponsor the competition to the tune of $500,000.
WSFCL, of which Blythe is also the chairman and which was formed to assist sports in the parish, will also help in defraying registration fees for the clubs and also provide two match balls to each club.
The release said that Mr. Karl Salmon, the president of WSFCL, made it clear at the meeting that the funds would go directly through the WFA and not to individual clubs and the only condition attached to the sponsorship was the company's name and logo on the jerseys.
