Softball: Qualifying loss could unravel the White Sox

New Zealand coach Mike Walsh expects his White Sox side to fragment as they reflect on failing to qualify for next year's Athens Olympics.

Walsh expected many of the side's senior players to join veteran Melisa Upu in retirement with another three years to run before New Zealand strives to qualify for the next world championships.

Australia won the best-of-three Asia-Oceania qualifying finals series 1-0 and 4-1 at Sydney's Blacktown Olympic Centre on Saturday.

"If we qualified they'd have stayed on for the Olympics but I guess there are a few players here that won't be there in a few years' time," said Walsh.

His future was also undecided with the twin losses to Australia marking the end of a four-year stint at the helm.

Apart from the players' devastation at missing out on the Olympics, softball is also braced for a funding reduction after failing to get past the Olympic bronze medallists.

"I want to see what some of the team are going to do. They (Softball New Zealand) may also want a change. Our funding will be depleted. Maybe there'll be support in a couple of years," said Walsh.

Had New Zealand succeeded they would have competed at the annual Canada Cup competition in Vancouver in four months.

-NZPA