But the experienced chief executive has backed coach Tom Donnelly and said there were some positive signs to emerge from an otherwise disappointing season.
He has also stood behind the decision not to advertise the head coaching role following the 2022 season, when Otago also missed out on the playoffs despite boasting a team ladened with Super Rugby players.
"What we considered was in 2020, Tom had won the Shield off Taranaki," Kinley said.
"And in 2021, he took the team to the Championship final.
"The reviews had been really positive, the feedback from his coaching group and the team was positive, the reviews from the NZR high performance mentoring team were positive, and I saw huge growth with Tom."
The union stuck with Donnelly and Kinley confirmed he had his "100%" backing again.
Donnelly is contracted through to the end of 2024.
"From the results, it was a fail," Kinley said.
"But from a development and culture point of view, it is definitely a pass. We’ve just got to transfer those two areas into performance next year."
Kinley was also satisfied the coaching staff, for the most part, got the best out of a young squad in a challenging season.
"What we saw was a group of young players who were finding their way.
"But the connection between the coaching staff and the players was really strong and really positive.
"And overall, I think we put a platform in place that allowed the players to be the best they could be."
Otago had a run of major injury setbacks, which proved challenging.
"To lose a first five, second five, centre and a No6 and No8, well, that puts pressure on the next level of players."
Cameron Millar’s absence arguably left the biggest gap. He was charged with driving the game plan but his troublesome ankle complaint re-emerged during the heartbreaking 33-32 loss to Hawke’s Bay and that was him done for the season.
Season-ending injuries to James Lentjes, Oliver Haig and Josh Timu before the competition kicked off did not help. And Waisake Naholo lasted all of 20 minutes.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen’s and Sean Withy’s campaigns ended prematurely as well.
That meant some of the young players inked in for the old game here and there saw a lot more action.
Rookie winger Josh Whaanga started every single game in his first year out of school.
"Josh was always going to be in the environment for development. We contracted Waisake Naholo because we knew we had a real group of young players and a critical part of the NPC is to get in experienced players to mentor the younger ones.
"It is a big step up from club to NPC. But those players who came in played really well as we saw in that last game against Counties.
"As the confidence has grown, we’ve seen what that team is going to be capable of going forward."
Close losses to Hawke’s Bay and North Harbour sunk the team. Had those results gone other way, Otago would have been in the playoff mix.
"We were expecting to be in the playoffs. That was the goal.
"And I know everyone is disappointed with that."
But results are not the only measure of success. Otago was able to develop some players who look to have a bright future.
Prop Rohan Wingham and Whaanga were perhaps the best of the young crew, but fullback Finn Hurley ran some wonderful lines and halfback Nathan Hastie looked sharp and asked some questions of the defence.
"With the number of players now that have actually had exposure and development at that level, we should benefit from that next year, so that is one measure of success.
"Another measure of success is that connection with our own region and our club competition. We wanted to pick local players and we did that this year."
Other than Tom Sanders, who had signed with the Highlanders on a two-year deal, and John Tapueluelu, who started the season with North Harbour before switching to Otago, the squad was picked entirely from club players, Kinley said.
And Tapueluelu had played a lot of club rugby in the city and was part of the Otago side in 2022, so in that sense he was not a ring-in either.
