Mooney, whose two-year contract expires at the end of next season, said he knew coaching Otago was going to be a very difficult job when he took it on, but he wanted to make a difference.
But Otago Rugby Football Union board chairman Wayne Graham yesterday declined to back Mooney and said a thorough review needed to be carried out at the end of the season.
Graham said the board was unhappy with the team's performance.
Otago sits bottom of the 14-team ITM Cup, with one game left in the season.
It will play Manawatu on Saturday at Carisbrook to decide which team picks up the wooden spoon.
Mooney, who was imported from Queensland last year to coach the team, said he had found the season extremely frustrating.
"We are just not able to consistently stay in games because of errors we make . . . certainly there have been guys who have done well this year but the reality is we have got a few holes," Mooney said.
"When you've got those key players in the team and they get injured like Kees [Meeuws], Adam [Thomson] and Ben Smith, then you get a bit thin. If you have them on board you are a better team and if you get a few more good players then you are an infinitely better [team] again."
He said the side was not winning key moments in games.
"You look at Waikato and they get someone back like Stephen Donald, a 20-test All Black. You bring him back and he shows how good he is for their team."
Mooney said he inherited the Otago playing roster and that was what he had to work with.
"I think strengthening the playing roster is a big priority."
He said there was great depth in rugby in New Zealand so good players could be found.
He pointed to the rise of Otago prop Halani Aulika, who moved from Auckland club rugby to Otago and has put in some impressive performances.
Mooney said he and assistant coach David Latta were still working hard, and had given no thought to throwing in the towel.
"I've never thought about it [quitting]. At the end of the day I knew what I was letting myself in for and knew it was a big ask. I want to see it through. Like a lot of other teams it's not a quick fix, but I've always known that."
He said a lot of people in Otago rugby were working hard, and trying to get things right.
Graham said the board was obviously very unhappy with the effort of the team and an in-depth review would be carried out after Saturday's match.
He declined to give Mooney full backing until the review was completed.
Otago was caught out this year by getting organised too late, Graham said.
"If you go right back to square one in January-February then we made mistakes then in a lot of areas. We have to identify those and make sure they are not made again."
Graham said a lot of preparation had to be done before the side takes the field, and this season Otago was too slow in recruiting players.
He said talk of a player clean-out was premature as the review had to be carried out.
The coaches were not appointed until the start of this year, which was too late, and Graham said the recruitment process for the 2011 season was occurring now.
Deputy chairman Laurie Mains was overseeing recruitment and retention for next season and was working hard, Graham said.
The review would be carried out by three to four people but Graham would not be one of them.
"The board is spending a significant amount of time on all areas to make sure we get it right. We've got to perform well on Saturday and finish the season well.
"But we can't interfere with the coaching. Our job is to review and talk to the players, the coaches, the management and then see what comes of that."
