Harold Alfond won’t own a piece of the Boston Red Sox for the first time in 24 years.

But the multi-millionaire philanthropist from Waterville is a firm backer of the group that is buying the Red Sox for $660 million plus taking on $40 million in team debt. The sale still has to be approved by the major league owners.

That group is headed up by former Florida Marlins owner John Henry, ex-San Diego Padres owner Tom Werner, former ski magnate Lee Otten, and former U.S. Senator George Mitchell of Waterville.

Alfond had been a limited partner and owned approximately 14 percent of the team at the time of its sale. That would make him the eventual recipient of a check in the vicinity of $75 million-$85 million if the sale is approved.

“They picked the right people. They’re all baseball people and I think they’ll do a good job,” said Alfond from his home in West Palm Beach, Fla. “They’ve all been connected with baseball in some capacity for 25 years. They’re what the Red Sox need.”

“I’m 1,000 percent happy with the deal. It couldn’t have been any better,” said Alfond. “The limited partners and general partners got what they wanted.”

He admitted that he’ll miss being a limited partner “very much.”

“I had a great 24 years. I got to travel with the team to playoff games; I got to know some of the ballplayers. It was great. I don’t know any limited partners [in other organizations] who got treated as well as we did. I hope the new ones get the same treatment,” said Alfond, who hopes to remain involved with the franchise in some capacity.

“I’ll do whatever they ask me to do,” said Alfond.

Alfond has been a longtime friend of Mitchell’s and said he is a good addition to the franchise.

“He’s a great baseball fan. I’m sure he and the group will do the right thing,” said Alfond.

He is convinced that the new ownership group is fully aware of the passion New Englanders have for the Red Sox and how important it is for the franchise to be in the hunt for that elusive World Series championship on a consistent basis.

Boston, which began play in 1901, hasn’t won a World Series since 1918.

“They have been around for 100 years. It’s the greatest franchise in baseball. The Yankees may be a little better, but I don’t recognize it,” quipped Alfond.

One of the primary issues facing the ownership group will be the status of tradition-rich but antiquated Fenway Park. Fenway holds only 33,991 people, which makes it difficult to generate revenue to pay the escalating salaries.

“It’ll be up to the new owners to make that decision [whether or not to build a new stadium],” said Alfond. “I would like to see something in Boston that can seat 45,000-50,000 with all the new conveniences.”

Alfond has liked the player moves the Red Sox have made during a busy offseason, obtaining the likes of veteran pitchers John Burkett, Dustin Hermanson, and Darren Oliver, slugger Tony Clark, and speedy leadoff hitter and center fielder Johnny Damon.

“The Red Sox have made some great deals,” said Alfond.

Alfond also keeps tabs on the University of Maine’s athletic teams. Alfond Stadium [for football and field hockey] and Alfond Arena [hockey and basketball] carry his name for his financial support to the university.

“Some members of my family went to the hockey game in Portland [Maine’s 4-1 win over Dartmouth on Sunday] and they were really happy with how the team looked. And they said there was a great crowd [5,784],” said Alfond. He was a close personal friend of the late Shawn Walsh, who led the hockey program to two national championships, seven Frozen Four appearances, and 10 NCAA Tournaments in his 17 years.

Walsh died of complications of kidney cancer on Sept. 24.

“I hope the college doesn’t let that sport get away from it [national prominence]. It has helped everybody from the admissions office to the fans to people all across the state,” said Alfond, who receives letters from Walsh’s wife, Lynne. She keeps him informed on the team’s progress.

“I’ll do everything I can to help [the team],” he added.

He also said he enjoyed the UMaine football team’s success and witnessed the first-ever playoff win [14-10 over McNeese State in Louisiana].

“They looked great. They’ve got a good coach [Jack Cosgrove]. Hopefully they’ll keep him,” said Alfond.