Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Just hours ahead of last night's planned 'no-confidence' vote against him, Everton Tomlinson tendered his resignation as chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation Western Confederation (JFFWC) with immediate effect on Thursday night, expressing a desire to see unity return to the confed.

In an open letter dated January 3, 2008, which was copied to the media, the embattled Tomlinson, who had seemed all ready to challenge the 'no-confidence' motion brought against him by the executive of the JFFWC, said his decision to resign was taken after consultation with JFF boss, Captain Horace Burrell.

"I wish to advise that after consultation with president of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell, and also on my own reflection, I've decided in the best interest of unity in the western football confederation to tender my resignation with immediate effect," Tomlinson stated in his letter.

Vice-chairman of the JFFWC, Craig Oates, said the organisation was not in receipt of any such letter and that they were getting ready for the meeting to address the 'no-confidence' motion.

"We have not gotten any resignation letter from Everton (Tomlinson) and plans are in place to go ahead with the 'no-confidence' motion tonight," said Oates yesterday. "If he has indeed resigned, that would be the appropriate thing to do because our executive has made it quite clear that we no longer want him as our chairman."

Things fall apart

Shortly after he was re-elected unopposed for a third consecutive term as chairman of the JFFWC on November 30, 2007, things began to fall apart for Tomlinson when the newly elected members began pressing for accountability, including audited financial statements.

The situation, which led to the no-confidence motion, occurred during a contentious JFFWC meeting on December 14, when an irate Tomlinson reportedly used several expletives and walked out after questions were raised about his leadership and the organisation's lack of transparency.

Immediately following Tomlinson's walk-out, the executive of the JFFWC took a decision to advance the no-confidence motion against him. In a subsequent letter to general secretary Carol Gentles, which was signed by vice-chairman Oates, St. James FA president, Orville Powell, and JFFWC chairman, Sheridan Samuels, the motion was put forward.

Among the numerous concerns about Tomlinson's leadership that were outlined in the no-confidence motion were the following: the chairman's failure to come up with a comprehensive plan for the confederation as was promised at the last AGM; the absence of a vision for football and disunity among the parishes in the confederation; the chairman's autocratic manner, which was stifling the opinion of other executive members; and the chairman's reneging on an agreement on fiscal prudence, by-passing the treasurer and signing cheques.