The Scarlets want to sell Stradey Park to housing developers

Millionaire businessman Griffiths has joined the Scarlets board after making a "substantial investment" which has saved the Scarlets from meltdown.

But in his first interview since becoming a Scarlets director, Griffiths told BBC Wales Sport he would "love to be involved long term" with the region.

"I don't have the time to get involved on a full-time basis," said Griffiths.

"Clearly as a board director, I will be involved in terms of ensuring the business succeeds, but this is a non-executive investment.

"Huw Evans, who I've got a huge amount of respect for is the chairman and Stuart Gallacher is doing an excellent job as chief executive.

I'm delighted I can help them into the new year and give them an opportunity to fight the call-in and to get planning Scarlets backer Tim Griffiths

"I wouldn't have got involved had I not trusted both men implicitly and I'm slightly embarrassed I'm being portrayed as the saviour of the Scarlets.

"These guys have been in situ for a long time. They've pushed above their weight and created a fantastic opportunity for the whole region."

Griffiths, a life-long Scarlets fan who was brought up in west Wales before moving to England, decided to get involved after learning of the region's dire financial plight.

Scarlets chairman Evans made a startling revelation in October that the region would fold by Christmas unless they found an extra �2m investment.

The delay in the Scarlets' planned new stadium, which would see current home Stradey Park sold off for housing, has caused the cashflow problem.

Local residents are opposing the plans for 450 new homes, which prompted the Welsh Assembly Government in July for inspection.

Griffiths' undisclosed and unconditional investment will keep the region afloat until March. The Assembly is due to give its verdict on the planning application two months later.

He said: "I'm delighted I can help them into the new year and give them an opportunity to fight the call-in and to get planning.

"If you're out of business, you've got no chance of fighting."

Griffiths says he has studied closely the Scarlets' application, and has been impressed by the amount of work put into the project.

Without the stadium and the income that brings we'll have a big challenge on our hands Tim Griffiths

He believes the new 15,000-seater stadium is crucial to safeguard the region's future, and rejects suggestions he is taking a risk by investing in a region with a history of financial trouble.

"I've had a lots of advice as to the fact I must be slightly crazy to get involved," said Griffiths, who is chief executive of �450m global company Williams Lea.

"I don't see it like that. I think they are doing a fantastic job down there.

"It's a community I grew up in and my family are fortunate to be in a position where we can do a little bit to help.

"I've been approached in the past by people, but clearly this is an organisation I'm familiar with and one I use to support as a boy."

He added: "I would love to be involved long-term but that is predicated on the Scarlets having a long-term future, which comes back to the criticality of the getting their stadium built.

"Maintaining a professional franchise in west Wales is going to require the region, which is relatively small in terms of population, to punch above its weight.