Blues chief executive Michael Redman admits the Auckland Super Rugby franchise fell well short of expectations again this season.
The Blues finished last in the New Zealand conference with seven wins, seven losses and a draw - and in the process, missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year.
Redman told Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE's Sunday Sport that the inability to execute under pressure cost the Blues in the backend of the season.
"I think the reality is if you look across the whole season we are down to a handful of games where haven't been able to execute under pressure which have cost us dearly," Redman said.
"Especially in the New Zealand derbies. We put ourselves in a position to win four of those this year and we were not able to close them out and that was the difference in making the playoffs."
Mr Redman said there's a "mental toughness" needed to close out games.
"The review said to us that on field leadership, and execution under pressure, is what the players and coaches identified as being the difference between playoffs and not," he said.
"We finished eighth on points and it's because of the complicated Super Rugby playoffs that we are not in the playoffs. We're also in the toughest conference."
Redman believes that things will start looking positive as the Blues build toward the future.
However, he admitted that Auckland is not an ideal place for players to live due to a number of factors.
"Whether it is the fact we are in a goldfish bowl, at training with all the cameras in their faces every week, the cost of living along with transport," Redman said.
"All those things add up and when players make decisions where to come they look at all that stuff, and in the end, they look at our record and say, 'Am I up for going to that club?'.
"We try to retain players from the region who are committed to the region and that is what is exciting for us. We have seven or eight guys under 23 who have come through the system and want to stay here."
Tana Umaga has come under fire as coach of the Blues, but Redman assured the former All Black's captain won't lose his job - identifying him as the right man for the job.
"Tana is two years into a three-year contract. Everybody wants him to be successful," he said.
"One thing the Blues haven't got right is wielding the axe on coaches who have gone on to be successful elsewhere in another environment.
"We have a coaching group that we think can take us forward. Obviously, we will look again next year, but as long as we are seeing progress and momentum we have to continue to invest in what we do."
The Blues are losing two of their key leaders in Steven Luatua and Charlie Faumuina, who are off to Bristol and Toulouse respectively.
Newshub.