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by Taro Toporific » Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:46 pm
Huh?
by Mulboyne » Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:35 pm
[/floatr]Here's a similar case. Plymouth Argyle is an English football team playing in the division below the top flight Premiership. A Japanese company called K&K Shonan Management Corporation has recently taken a 20% stake in the team. It's a small investment but unclear what the company hopes to get out of it. A local paper has found some more details:
by gkanai » Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:21 pm
by GomiGirl » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:32 am
Mulboyne wrote:[floatr]
by Behan » Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:06 pm
by Greji » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:45 am
Behan wrote:If they get a famous Japanese player on the team I wonder if they could make a lot of it with marketing. Maybe they could sell lots of uniforms, travel packages to go see games, etc.
by Behan » Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:57 pm
by Mulboyne » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:53 pm
Plymouth Argyle have further strengthened their Japanese links by appointing Yasuhiko Okudera as their new president. Okudera was the first Japanese player to play professionally in Europe when he joined FC Koln in 1977 and won 32 caps for his country. He is revered as one of the country's greatest ever players. He was the unanimous choice of the Argyle board and follows businessman Yasuaki Kagami's investment in April. Argyle chairman Paul Stapleton told the club website: "We are delighted that Mr Okudera has accepted our invitation to become the new president of Plymouth Argyle. "Mr Okudera's standing in the Far east, and particularly in Japan, is without parallel. When he speaks, people listen. "His name alone will open new doors and present new opportunities for us, especially in the commercial sphere, that would otherwise remain closed to us." Okudera is also the current president of J-League side Yokohama Marinos. He will meet the board on Friday, along with Yasuaki Kagami. Mr Kagami's K&K Shonan Management Corporation took a 20% stake in Argyle's holding company in April. Mr Kagami has yet to meet the board or visit Home Park.
by Mulboyne » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:01 pm
Plymouth Argyle's new Japanese director is hopeful of bringing a host of his countrymen to the club. Yasaki Kagami arrived at Home Park for the first time last weekend after his Shonan Management Corporation bought a 20% stake in the club in April. "We're in serious discussions with four or five [Japanese players] but realistically we're looking at January," said spokesman George Synan. "The Japanese season ends in December and most are contracted until January." He continued: "That's really the time when we can go out there and heavily recruit. "They've got to fit in the team and the coach has to feel as though they'll come and compliment the team." The club last week announced that former Japanese international Yasuhiko Okudera had been appointed as the club's president.
by Mulboyne » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:15 pm
SUPPORTERS' group representatives have welcomed the prospect of a takeover at Plymouth Argyle. Japanese businessman Yasuaki Kagami is in advanced talks to buy a controlling interest in the Championship club. There has been no official comment from Kagami, his closest advisor George Synan, or from Argyle about the negotiations. But the visit to Plymouth last week of Kagami and Synan for a series of meetings has been a topic of discussion among the Green Army. Kagami did not attend the 3-0 defeat by Doncaster Rovers at Home Park because he had business elsewhere, but Synan was there. They have now both returned to Japan, but there could be an announcement on their plans for Argyle in the next two weeks.
Herald Sport has spoken to representatives of some of the various Argyle supporters' groups about the possible takeover. There was praise for the stability and success achieved by the Pilgrims' board of directors, led by Paul Stapleton, over recent seasons. However, the over-riding opinion was that the time had come for a change at the top. Mark Edwards, treasurer of the Plymouth Argyle Supporters' Association – Northern Branch, said: "We have had quite a few discussions among ourselves about this. I would say the general consensus is that the current board of directors have done a fantastic job to get us to where we are. But it's obvious we need some more investment to take us forward. We just aren't getting the crowds, and so on. So it becomes a question of where is that investment going to come from. We would welcome any investment in the club, but there is an uncertainty about why a Japanese businessman would buy into a little club like Plymouth Argyle. That's the worry. You can understand why people from overseas would want to takeover at Manchester City. Even in our own division, Nottingham Forest are a club who have been on the global stage at some stage of their history. So you can't help wondering what's it in for the Japanese. That's the bit people don't understand. Until they come forward and talk about their interest in the club, I think supporters are going to reserve judgement on them."
Dave Marshall, chairman of the Plymouth branch of Argyle's supporters' club, shared many of Edwards' views. Marshall said: "The way it's looking, a major cash injection is what Argyle need at this time. I think it will be a good thing if there is a takeover of the club because Paul Stapleton and the board have taken us as far they can. It's all to do with finances in the Championship and our board haven't got the money." Kagami wants to increase his stake in Plymouth Argyle (Holdings) Ltd from 20 per cent to 51 per cent. Plymouth Argyle (Holdings) Ltd owns 76 per cent of the club's total shares. Kagami first invested in Argyle last April, when he was appointed to the board of directors. Marshall added: "Knowing the Japanese companies in Plymouth – Kawasaki and Toshiba – their management is second to none. So I think this will only improve things at Argyle. I have no qualms about it."
Lee Jameson, vice-chairman of the Plymouth Argyle Supporters' Association London Branch, was equally enthusiastic about Kagami taking control of the Pilgrims. He said: "I think it would be a wonderful thing. I'm not saying the present board of directors have done a bad job. In the present circumstances, I think they have done quite well. But it is time for a change. The club is going nowhere under Paul's leadership, unfortunately, whether it's down to a problem with finances or the squad of players. In my opinion, the only way Plymouth Argyle are going to progress is by changing the make-up of the board totally." Jameson believes it would be important for Kagami to improve communication with the supporters, which he thought was a fault of the current regime at Argyle. He added: "Sometimes, people say 'better the devil you know' and I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks that way. But if the Japanese are willing to be transparent, open and honest – and Japanese people seem to be of high integrity – there is no reason why it can't work out well."
Derrick Baker, chairman of the Senior Greens, admitted he had some reservations about the prospect of a takeover at Argyle. Baker said: "If they are purely and simply going to put some money in for the benefit of the club then it has to be a good thing. I just hope there aren't any ulterior motives behind it." Bob Gelder, press officer of the Plymouth Argyle Cornish Supporters' Association, would also like to know more about Kagami's plans for the club. He said: "It would be nice to see financial input, but to what ends would it be put? I would like to know what their five-year plan for the club is. If they were prepared to put that on the table, it might make people more comfortable about the takeover scenario." Gelder added: "If it means we get quality footballers from Japan to play for Argyle and enhance the club's standing then so be it. That's good news."
by Greji » Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:20 pm
by Mulboyne » Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:09 am
After months of internal wrangling, the men who will shape the future of Plymouth Argyle were finally revealed at a news conference on Thursday morning. But for many seasoned Argyle observers the make-up of the new board came as a surprise. Japanese businessman Yasuaki Kagami and his Kagami Shonan Management Corporation which includes American George Synan, had been tipped to secure a controlling interest in the club. Instead, it was revealed that Kagami had formed a consortium with KKC, a company owned by Sir Roy Gardner and Keith Todd. Kagami now has a 38% holding in the club, with KKC providing the extra 13% to give the consortium a controlling interest.
The Japanese businessman has been something of an elusive figure at Plymouth Argyle since his company first bought shares in April 2008, with Synan representing him on public occasions. Somewhat understandably questions have been asked by fans about the motives of the Kagami Group in taking over the club. The group which trades under the name KKShonan focuses on the consumer, property and leisure sectors. Gardner, who is the only new board member to have previous football experience, told BBC Spotlight the consortium believes there is a "huge potential to exploit the footballing side" of the club. He then went some way to reassure fans that the takeover was not simply a business venture. "This is the fan's club. I'm here because I'm a fan of the football. "But it is important that we generate additional revenue so we can fund player acquisitions in the future because we are going to create a five-year plan, which at the end of it will take us into the Premiership."
Money for new players is the number one priority for many Plymouth fans, with Karl Fletcher the only signing so far over the close season. Lack of funds at Argyle is all the more prevalent in light of the club's struggle to stave off relegation last season, as they finished only one place above the drop zone. The continued involvement of Paul Stapleton, Tony Wrathall and Robert Dennerly on the Argyle board and assurances that manager Paul Sturrock will stay, should go some way to easing both the concerns of fans about the takeover and the transition itself. The consortium between Kagami and KKC has already given some clues about the plans for the future of the club ahead of publishing a five-year-plan by the end of the year.
Amongst the proposals suggested are heightened links with football clubs in both the USA and Japan, finishing the development of Home Park and establishing a youth academy. Such plans will be welcomed by the majority of fans, but assurances of more money and stability are what most Pilgrims really want. It took a long time in coming, but a new chapter has finally begun at Home Park, the content of which is still largely unknown. What we do know is that it is going to be an interesting few months for the Greens.
by Mulboyne » Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:59 am
Japanese businessman Yasuaki Kagami, whose company has a large holding of Plymouth Argyle shares has reacted badly to the team's relegation. Speaking on a specially constructed stand in the middle of Home Park, he berated the team for not working hard enough to avoid relegation to Division one next season.
He announced that summer leave will be cancelled and, as a team building exercise, they will have to build a bamboo bridge across the River Tamar before the start of the next rainy season. Head Coach Paul Mariner and ex-manager Paul Sturrock, who have been locked up in a tin shed at the Barn Park end, were both unavailable for comment.
Guards from Kagami's construction company have been posted outside the shed, in case anyone tries to smuggle in food, or even Ivor Dewdney pasties, to the two men. Your correspondent understands that both men were keeping up their spirits by whistling in the dark, something they've had plenty of practice at this season.
by Behan » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:02 am
Mulboyne wrote:Kagami might not be too thrilled with his purchase. Plymouth Argyle have just been relegated to what effectively is England's third class league.
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