At a meeting this week, Cunningham revealed that he and four other board members intended to retire in the new year.
''We would like to give suitable people a chance to become involved,'' he said.
''Ideally, we hope to add to the board before the annual meeting on February 18.''
Cunningham said Southern United had recovered from a drastic financial deficit, and expected to break even by the end of this season.
Others who have intimated their departures are board members John Mathias, Darren Burden, Dave Lamont and Invercargill-based Ken Cresswell.
Mathias and Burden are leaving Dunedin, and Cresswell is moving north from Invercargill, while Lamont - who has been involved since a Dunedin-based national league side was formed - is retiring.
Mathias and Lamont have a long history with Otago football administration, and could remain available in the background to help the new administration. Surviving board members are Gerry Sannum, Marcel Rodeka, Kevin Kaiser and administrator Riana da Silva.
Southern United is theoretically backed by all senior clubs and the FootballSouth administration led by Bill Chisholm, who believes FootballSouth and the national league club have been forging a closer relationship.
Football clubs will be approached, clarifying the situation and seeking nominations for new board members.
