Simon Hallett admitted that his involvement with Plymouth Argyle as owner and president was a life-changing experience for him and his wife Jane.
The US-based businessman spends much more time than he expected traveling across the Atlantic to see Argyle.
Hallett is currently on his last visit to the UK and will return to the United States on Sunday after the men’s and women’s teams played away to Ipswich Town this weekend.
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He and his wife will then be back for the last two games of the League One campaign, away at Wigan Athletic and at home at MK Dons, as the Pilgrims try to get a play-off spot.
Hallett first became Argyle’s director in 2016. A few years later, he took over the ownership of James Brent’s club and financed the full cost of the Mayflower Tribune’s redevelopment.
He made regular visits to Home Park throughout the season when Argyle emerged as a candidate for promotion to the championship.
Hallett told Plymouth Live: “I enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would enjoy it. I thought I would enjoy it, but I’m so committed I think Jane and I both have it, Covid aside, the plans for the rest of our lives in a few ways.
“We thought we would spend quite a third of our time in England, a third of our time on the road watching and traveling with grandchildren, and a third of the time at home.
“I think the time travel will usually come to watch Argyle or do things around the club. It’s a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be.
“It’s partly a function of being successful on the pitch, but it’s also partly a function of the success of the pitch.
“Off the field we are now a very different club and the feeling around the club is just fantastic. I like being around it.”
Argyle remained at the top end of the League One table despite the departure of manager Ryan Lowe in December to take over at Preston North End.
Lowe’s assistant manager, Steven Schumacher, stepped up to the role, which was dismissed by him, and impressed everyone with the way he took it with such pain.
Hallett said: “Steven was always in our head as Argyle’s next manager, so we were able to act so quickly when Ryan decided to leave.
“Of course we did not think it would be so fast, but that was always in our head.
“I asked Schuey a year ago ‘Do you work for Argyle or do you work for Ryan? and the answer was that he worked for Argyle.
“He was always in our head, but we did not know he would accept the job. He is obviously very close to Ryan.
“Schuey is a smart cookie, he’s a different kind of manager. He needs media so he’s good in public, he’s good on his feet, he’s good with the players.
“I had a message from an ex-player during the week of Schuey’s appointment who said he’s the best coach he’s ever had.
“It might have looked risky, but for people who know Schuey, it was not risky. I do not think age is important in football.
“Because there’s a correlation between age and openness to new ideas, and Schuey is open to new ideas. I think that’s important.
“But I have to say that when people think it’s a bit risky, I say ‘bring it up.’ I like that people take risks.
“I think you have to take risks if you want to be successful, but I think there was less risk with Schuey’s appointment than is generally considered.”
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