NEW board member George Synan insisted both his and Yasuaki Kagami's interest and investment in Plymouth Argyle was sincere and long term.

Synan said they were both excited at their new venture and looking to boost the club both on and off the field.

However, the American businessman's position on the top table at yesterday's Press conference in the boardroom was probably the only major surprise at the official pronouncement of the takeover.

The pair are the largest shareholders on the new Argyle board, with Synan a director of Shonan Management Corporation, which is part of the Kagami Group.

Synan had been viewed as Argyle's Japanese director Kagami's right-hand man, acting as a conduit between him and the Championship club.

Kagami has been a director of the club since 2008 and his Kagami Group has now increased its holding from 20 to 38 per cent.

Incoming chairman Sir Roy Gardner and new director and long-standing Argyle fan Keith Todd have bought 13 per cent of the shares through their joint venture company, KKC.

However, it had been anticipated Synan would play more of a broker's role for the Shonan Management Corporation (SMC) chief, looking after Kagami's business investment and interests as the major player in the takeover.

But Synan has joined a seven-strong board which also consists of new chairman Gardner, former chairman and now deputy chairman Paul Stapleton, Kagami, Todd, Tony Wrathall and Robert Dennerly.

When asked how a Japanese and American businessman became involved in Argyle, Synan said: "It's always been our strategy to advise this club.

"We think with this new shareholding balance with this great team, we've achieved that.

"We feel the board up to now has done a tremendous job and we are looking forward, with their experience, to taking it to the next level.

"I was sold on Plymouth Argyle by my good friend (Plymouth-born) Tony Campbell.

"Once Mr Kagami and myself looked further and further into the transaction we could see it was a good club.

"Paul Stapleton runs a tight ship and the club is on fairly stable ground.

"With this new partnership and with Keith Todd active, we have the ability to take off from this point.

"We're continuing to get more and more excited about it.

"The excitement was a factor and the comfort level was a factor to increase our activities."

Synan said the Pilgrims would also benefit in the future on the pitch from the recruitment of Japanese internationals to be placed at manager Paul Sturrock's disposal.

But, Synan said, next year's football World Cup in South Africa meant the trade would have to be delayed until at least after the tournament.

"We've had tremendous feedback from agents who want to place top-level players over here," said Synan.

"But we have one small problem which is called the World Cup, as we have a national coach in Japan who wants to keep his players domestic.

"Once the World Cup is behind us, we will bring top talent over here.

"But again that top talent has to coincide and fit with Luggy's (Sturrock's) crew.

"You won't see that type of player here until late next fall (autumn 2010)."

Synan expanded on the new board's interest in establishing a youth academy at Home Park and forging links with LAFC president Don Sheppard in the United States.

Argyle president Yasuhiko Okudera is also involved in football schools in Yokohama – Japan's second largest city – which could lead to ties in the Far East.