University-Grange will not compete in the senior competition this summer.
Dunedin club cricket delegates voted 5-2 on Tuesday night to adopt a six-team structure which excludes University-Grange.
The club had hoped the delegates would vote for a second proposal which would have included University-Grange and an Otago under-19 team in a spring series from September 26 through to Labour Weekend.
University-Grange was unable to take a full part in the senior competition last season, but felt the proposed series offered it an opportunity to rebuild its player base.
Dunedin Cricket Association operations manager Tim O'Sullivan wore two hats through the process.
He is also a University-Grange committee member and conceded he was surprised the vote had been so emphatic. Only North East Valley joined University-Grange in its support of the spring series.
''We have to take stock and see where we are at,'' he said.
''We did not really anticipate the vote to be like that. It was a bit of a surprise.
''Our intention is to field a second and third grade side and we will work towards that.''
O'Sullivan was reluctant to comment further. However, he accepted the club's future was uncertain. Asked if the club may fold, he responded: ''Not at this point in time. Maybe down the track but we certainly don't want that.''
Grange and University merged in 1986-87 and had immediate success, winning the banner. It won its only other title in 2003-04.
Grange, which was formed in 1880, won its first title in 1888-89 and collected or shared in another four titles before the dawn of the 20th century.
It won four consecutive titles in the early 1920s and back-to-back titles in 1948-49 and 1949-50.
Its last title as a separate club was in 1981-82. In all it won or shared in 23 senior titles.
University has a long history as well and won three consecutive titles from 1968-1970.
University-Grange has struggled to field a competitive team during the traditional holiday period for several years and the situation reached a crisis point last season when the club decided against playing a full part in the season.
While it is sad to lose a team with a long and proud history, it may strengthen the tournament which has for the past decade been caught in an awkward spot - you might say at sixes and sevens.
With just seven senior clubs in the city, the spectre of a bye forced organises to look for a solution.
The short-lived Pelichet Bay team came into being for that very reason. Otago Country replaced Pelichet Bay in 2010-11 and competed in the first round of the tournament as part of its preparations for the Hawke Cup.
Otago Boys' High School joined the competition in 2013-14, also to help remove the bye.
Playing numbers in Dunedin have seriously declined since the 1980s when there were around 60 senior men's teams. In the past few seasons there have been just over 30 teams.
To address that decline, the Dunedin Cricket Association has reviewed its tournament structure and other changes appear likely.
Second grade games are likely to dropped from 50 overs to 45 or 40 overs. That is to provide for later start times with the hope it will encourage more people to remain or get involved.
There is also an intention to start a competition to provide secondary school teams with a midweek game.
