OCEANSIDE -- National City has backed out of the running to house a new stadium for the San Diego Chargers, but city officials in Oceanside, where the team is interested in building the facility on a city-owned golf course near Interstate 5, said that decision does not change their approach to the discussions.

Oceanside and Chula Vista are now the only cities in the county vying to host the team, which is planning to leave San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium within the next decade for a new state-of-the-art facility.

Still, "we've never been concerned with what anyone else is doing," City Councilman Jack Feller said Sunday of National City's decision. "We have to figure out what's best for Oceanside."

Councilman Jerry Kern said his concern remains with Oceanside, and not "what's going on down there."

"The Chargers may have to make some decisions but that doesn't change my thinking at all," he said.

National City Mayor Ron Morrison told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday that there was not enough financial support from around the region for his city's stadium bid, which might have cost $1 billion after the construction of parking garages, new freeway offramps and realigned trolley tracks.

"From day one, I knew it would be an uphill battle because I've worked with local governments for a very long time," Morrison said. "This is a very fast process, and local government isn't used to moving very fast."

The city had been the first to offer the team a stadium proposal after San Diego officials said they would not build the Chargers a new home last year.

However, unlike Oceanside -- which owns the proposed 70-acre property between Mission Avenue and Oceanside Boulevard -- National City ran into opposition because it did not own the bayfront land considered by the team. Most of the site just south of San Diego was owned by the San Diego Unified Port District and was home to maritime-industrial business, many of whom strongly opposed the stadium idea.

"When you don't own the land, that does create different problems," Feller said. "We'll have to take it to a vote and citizens will have to approve it, but we do own the land."

Team officials have said they want to put a stadium issue on the ballot in November 2008 no matter which city they choose.

Authorities also said a meeting is being rescheduled this week for city officials to meet with the Chargers to discuss the viability of constructing high-end office buildings alongside the proposed football stadium, a move that could provide more high-paying jobs for residents.

"We've been saying for some months that the city of Oceanside has a need for high-end office buildings," Councilman Rocky Chavez said, adding that the proposed property "is probably the best site we have."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact staff writer Sarah Wilkins at (760) 761-4414 or swilkins@nctimes.com.