LLANDILLO, Westmoreland — Savannah FC’s qualification to next season’s Red Stripe Premier League is not by accident, but by careful planning and working closely with the Westmoreland Football Association, says local football boss Everton Tomlinson.

Savannah became the third club from Westmoreland to qualify for the island’s top club competition on Sunday after beating Eastern Confederation Super League champions Volvo FC, 1-0, at Drax Hall and improving to nine points, thus ensuring they could not finish lower than second in the competition that saw the top two promoted to the Premier League.

Former Premier League champions Reno FC and Westland FC have previously played in the Premier League, while Frome FC have played in the now defunct A League.

Cavalier of KSAFA also qualified for the RSPL, returning to the top competition for the first time since 1993. Both clubs will replace Reno and Village United.

Savannah moved from the Westmoreland Major League to the Premier League in two years after winning the Westmoreland League last season and the Western Confederation Super League this season, upsetting former Premier League kingpins Wadadah of St James in the final.

Tomlinson told the Jamaica Observer this week that Savannah FC’s qualification “is not by accident and came at the right time” as they replaced Reno, who were relegated at the end of the last season.

“The WFA has been working with all our affiliates to prepare them for moving as far as they can go, and Savannah is the one club that has shown that what we are doing is the right thing,” Tomlinson said.

“We are proud of them. They have followed our directives and their executives have made themselves available for seminars and coaching courses,” he said while singling out player/coach Kendrie Quarrie for special mention.

Quarrie, a former Frome Technical and Frome FC player, has “carried the Savannah team” with help from sponsors and Member of Parliament Wykeham McNeil, Tomlinson asserted.

Tomlinson said the toughest part of the journey is still to come and advised the management of Savannah FC not to look to win the league in the first year, but to consolidate their position and sustain their place for a long stay in the league.

He also advised that the management must work on strengthening the club structure and build membership as the WFA was more than willing to work “hand in hand” with Savannah to achieve this.