Wanganui City's projected budget for taking part in next season's Central League football was only about half the amount Central Football believed the Wanganui club needed.
The two were unable to meet in between and City, winner of the Western premiership this season, has forfeited its chance of making the league - a sad end to the club's best performance in the past 28 years.
This weekend's play-off will now be between Wellington qualifier Upper Hutt City and second-placed Western premiership team Palmerston North Marist.
City's senior team co-ordinator Simon Butters says Central Football asked for a budget last week and City had only a couple of days to come up with one.
"We gave them a ballpark figure of around $20,000 to compete in the competition. That's what we thought it would cost to run a team in the Central competition for the season.
"They came back with believing $40,000 was required. We pointed out our club was run a little differently from some other clubs but they wouldn't agree. They didn't feel we had put in enough contingencies."
Club president Gary Mackenzie said the club had not wanted to commit club sponsors to unspecified payments early in the season in case the club did not make the play-offs, but hinted at a far different approach next season as a result of the decision reached between Central and City not to go ahead this season.
"This was an incredibly tough decision to make given the players and coach were so deserving of the opportunity to play off.
"The committee, however, have had to consider the significant financial commitment of the Central League and be confident that those obligations could be met. In fairness to our club, to Marist, to the Central League and the Central Federation we felt we could not proceed, without certainty of being able to meet that commitment.
"I can only but express the disappointment we as a club feel."
Mackenzie said it was likely next season that the play-offs would become a major focus, with a sub-committee committed to planning - and seeking early funding - being formed pre-season.
"We will focus on the likelihood of promotion and sort out methods of financially supporting it."
City does not employ a professional fundraiser and would finish up with a loss this year, he said.
"We had verbal promises of support if we made the play-offs but you can't plan on verbals. The club is not absolutely financial and if we had entered into this competition, it would have crippled us," he said.
"It's past the point of no return now, and that's sad. It's a done deal. Hutt Valley will play Marist. The club has to think about all its teams, not just the top one."
Central Football CEO John McGifford says the $40,000 quote was not a fully costed one but he felt the $20,000 would have been "a bare minimum".
The cost of entering a team in the Central League, and ground, affiliation and other fees was $4000 alone, and the club would also have been required to field another senior team in Central Federation football.
There is one strong positive, though.
Butters says the players held a meeting on Tuesday night and promised to stick with the club.
"They're determined to win the league again and gain promotion into 2014," said Butters.
