The final nail in the coffin for Gold Coast United came as no surprise to the consortium trying to save them, with bid leader Geoffery Schuhkraft criticising Football Federation Australia for a lack of honesty.
The governing body will on Thursday announce club no longer exists after successfully securing funds from the Federal Government to underpin a Western Sydney franchise.
Following Clive Palmer's expulsion as owner, the Schuhkraft cartel has been calling on FFA to spare the much-maligned club - but all along, they have apparently known their pleas were going to fall on deaf ears.
"I've believed for the last few weeks that the FFA had no intention whatsoever in maintaining the Gold Coast license and today those fears were realised," Schuhkraft told Sportal.
"In coming clean finally and admitting that they'd been working on this Western Sydney team for months, it's obvious that they have not been transparent, open and honest in their dealings with Football Queensland and Football Gold Coast - their own member federations."
"They've not been honest to the football community and the other investors."
"I hope people look at what's gone on. They've not been honest to the football community and I don't believe that is acceptable conduct. Great organizations are built on trust and integrity and transparency - there was none of that."
In shunning the Gold Coast, FFA turned their back on a guaranteed $1.5 million in funding from hotel baron Tom Tate and a promise for more to come from the consortium.
The federation had earlier rejected a proposal that included the same amount of money from ex-chairman Palmer, who was keen to bankroll part of the burden at arm's length.
But instead they will dip into their own treasure chest for what will be the fourth team from New South Wales - just weeks after Frank Lowy told a business luncheon that FFA is not a "bank".
However, Schuhkraft said the 'Save GCU' bid would remain together and push for A-League inclusion once again in the near future.
"Nobody would walk away. If anything we'd be more committed than ever after the events that have transpired today. Football will be around for decades to come and at the right time the Gold Coast will be a part of it," he said.
"We need to move past this point, learn from all that has happened and ensure that when we have the opportunity to bid for a franchise in three to five years, that there is the grassroots support and financial underpinning, the off-shore partnerships already being developed."If the region is allowed to keep a National Youth League team, that may give the group of businessmen a foundation on which to build their club around.
Schuhkraft said they would support that, but added: "It's almost like being half-pregnant."
"You're asking young people to commit to coming to a team without a pathway they can aspire to. We're going to become good pickings for the southern clubs and for Brisbane."
The sports entrepreneur, who previously worked for AC Milan, also warned against rushing in the team who will replace Gold Coast.
"No market like Western Sydney should be rushed, especially when there was another option on the table that had a base on which to build," he said.
"There is a place for Western Sydney, Canberra and other locations in an expanded A-League but I don't believe that the heart should have been ripped out of the Gold Coast to facilitate that."