After a good start to the 2011–12 season Otago United lost several key players and slumped to a run of one draw and seven defeats.

The high points of manager Richard Murray's first year in charge were perhaps the blooding of several promising new young players and the selection of captain Tristan Prattley in the New Zealand national under-23 football team.

The loss of Prattley (to Waitakere United) and New Zealand under-20 international representative Joel Stevens to injury midway through the season severely hampered Otago, and they could only finish in 7th place with just two wins – avoiding the wooden spoon only on goal-difference.

The coaching position for the 2013-14 season was taken by Brazilian Luiz Uehara who approached the job with a long-term view and a desire to use local players; nevertheless he stated his prime focus was "on performance and playing a good level of football".

Fridge's poor performance led to his eventual demise, with Irishman Paul O'Reilly later appointed as the new coach in July 2016.