Adrian Frater, News Editor

Tomlinson

Western Bureau:

Everton Tomlinson will be aiming to win a fourth consecutive term as president of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA) tonight when the association holds its much-anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Frome Sports Club, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tomlinson, who is being challenged for the position by businessman Junior Francis, the founder of reigning parish champions Negril FC, said that based on the work he has done to bring the parish's football to prominence within recent years he is quite confident that the affiliates will stay in his corner.

"My record is there to show, when I took over as president nothing was happening in the parish," said Tomlinson. "Today we have an excellent youth programme, we have managed to attract quality sponsorship and the affiliates are happy with my leadership."

However, an equally confident Francis, whose slate includes former national technical director Wendell Downswell, said football is stagnant in the parish and badly needs an injection of new vision, focus and ideas.

"Football is stagnant in the parish, our only NPL team Reno was forced to move over to St. Elizabeth to play their games because the facilities in the parish are badly run down," said Francis. "The youth programme of which he speaks has nothing to do with his administration, it is as a result of the former Reno players working with the schools."

Besides the FA presidency being at stake, the result of the elections could also determine where the parish's support will go at the next Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Congress, where former president Horace Burrell has declared that he will be challenging incumbent president Crenston Boxhill for the top job.

"It is no secret that I am supporting Captain Burrell so it is understanding that the Boxhill camp has thrown it support behind Francis and his team," said Tomlinson. "They have been trying some underhand tactics, but the affiliates will not be fooled."