Only Dr Branko Sijnja, of Dunedin, and Kaye Crowther, of Invercargill, would comment when the Otago Daily Times sought reaction to the board's possible sacking.
''I think [the Health Minister] needs to make a decision. I don't like the situation we're in now,'' Dr Sijnja said.
''We're in suspension really, aren't we? The board tried hard to maintain services while making ends meet.
''My fear would be that a commissioner would run into the same problem; it's not just going to go away by putting somebody else there.''
Mrs Crowther said she hoped the board survived, or it would be a ''sad day'' for Otago and Southland.
''I'm hoping that it won't go the way of a commissioner.
''I think the board has done a very good job.''
Board members Tim Ward, Mary Gamble, Richard Thomson, Dr John Chambers and Tony Hill declined to comment.
Tuari Potiki and Neville Cook could not be contacted; Sandra Cook does not allow direct contact from reporters.
Chairman Joe Butterfield said on Monday he had confidence in the board and would not be commenting further until he had spoken to Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.
Dr Coleman has told the board he is unhappy with its performance and expects a response by tomorrow to the possibility of replacing it with a commissioner.
In a statement yesterday, the New Zealand Nurses' Organisation ''cautiously'' welcomed the prospect of a commissioner.
NZNO chief executive Memo Musa said Dr Coleman must ''move quickly'' on the decision.
''With a looming deficit of $27million, we fear for the health and lives of the geographically spread, largely rural population of Otago and Southland if cuts are made to public health services.''
Mr Musa asked if it was time to ''clear the slate'' financially for the DHB.
Simon Smith, who runs the Stop Dunedin Hospital from being downgraded page on Facebook, is also cautiously in favour of a change.
''Having said that, if the SDHB comes up with a satisfactory rescue plan, then even better, but personally, I think the whole system needs a shut-down and reboot, and start again from scratch.
''Will be interesting to see what Dr Coleman decides after reviewing the SDHB's response, but I think it may be too little, too late.''
Former board member Malcolm Macpherson, of Alexandra, who served four terms until 2013, said the South would benefit from the proposed shake-up.
''[The] public, staff and unions should support this move. It's our last best chance to retain key services and build better facilities.
''This is a generational opportunity. Change for the better, and a viable business model, is possible, and this opportunity to achieve it should not be squandered."
But the board should not be blamed, as the Government and Ministry of Health officials had had their ''fingerprints all over this DHB for years''.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, who has been under pressure from rural communities over health cuts, said she could not pre-judge the outcome, but a commissioner might be the ''circuit-breaker''.
''There needed to be fresh eyes ... on this because clearly the solution proposed by the district health board was not being accepted by the small rural hospitals.''
Dr Coleman's spokeswoman said the minister had nothing further to add to the previous day's comments.
