Shaun Goater's decision to leave Manchester City has likely cost him the chance of playing in Europe next year.

European governing body, UEFA, announced yesterday that City had been given a berth in the qualifying round of next season's UEFA Cup after England topped the Euro Fair Play rankings last season.

Their reward was an extra spot in next season's competition.

And while City finished ninth in the English Premier League and fifth in their domestic Fair Play competition, trailing league champions Manchester United, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool, because those four illustrious clubs had already qualified for either the Champions League or the UEFA Cup, the honour was extended to City.

Asked yesterday how he felt at the prospect of missing out on a personal dream of playing in a major European competition, Goater admitted it would have been a great experience.

"I really can't comment at length on that because I still don't know whether or not I will be at Manchester City. But if I am, it would be great," said Goater, as he helped supervise participants at his Grassroots Soccer Festival at Spice Valley School.

"It would be great to be involved in that. But if you were to ask any player if they preferred to enter into the competition through Fair Play - and Fair Play is a brilliant thing - I don't know. . .

"It means that you have sportsmanship and you follow the rules and abide by them as a team. But I think that players in the main want to obtain a UEFA place through good position (in the league table).

"But it's brilliant for them and if I'm still there it would be great.

"(My situation) all depends on what fee they (City) ask for and whether clubs are willing to pay the fee they are asking."

The last time City competed in the UEFA Cup was in 1979 when they lost to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the fourth round.

Fair Play rankings are based on positive play, respect for opponents and referees and crowd behaviour, as well as red and yellow cards received over the duration of the season.