Anthony Daly says it's time for the Wexford players to "stand up" after Sunday's disappointing defeat to Kilkenny at UPMC Nowlan Park.
It was a first loss to their neighbours and fierce rivals from the Marble City in any competition since 2018, but the nature of the performance was a source of concern for the two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare.
The fixture had originally been intended to be played a week earlier but a number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Wexford squad led to a postponement.
In all of that there had been controversy after two players from Clare, who were the last team to play the Yellowbellies before they knew about the cases, were stood down for the Banner's clash with Laois after being deemed close contacts.
It led to a back and forth between Wexford and Clare's respective county boards this week over who was to blame, but ultimately when Davy Fitzgerald's charges did eventually get to play the Cats on Sunday they fell flat.
As early as the fifth minute Billy Ryan was able to cut through the Wexford defence before smashing home a goal. And the gap was out to 14 by half time after TJ Reid - who would knock over 18 points as well - finished to the net from close range.
While the visitors to Nowlan Park did improve in the second half they never looked like winning the contest.
And Daly, speaking on RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday, said that this is a huge summer for Wexford if they plan to deliver more success under Fitzgerald.
"They were all over the place," declared the Clarecastle man.
"It (the controversy) is not helping either county at the moment. That's obvious from their display there today. They looked distracted, all over the shop in the first half. A total of seven points and the concession of some of the scores.
"The gaffer wasn't happy afterwards. He's telling them, 'lads we've one last chance to take on this crowd if we beat Laois on the third day of July and the day of reckoning is coming for you as a bunch of players.'
"Brilliant two years ago they've hardly had a brilliant performance since. So it's all eggs in the championship basket for these boys.
"They have to deliver as a bunch of players - for the management as well. The management has been excellent over the years in terms of the coaches Davy has had with him, and himself as a manager.
"It's time for the players to stand up."
On the same programme former Waterford manager Derek McGrath - who is currently involved with some of the Wexford players in his role with the Faythe Harriers - echoed Daly's sentiments.
He explained that the situation with the positive Covid-19 cases might have impacted the Slaneysiders' ability to train together.
"Physically the mitigating circumstances were that they couldn't train collectively," he said.
"We're probably speculating on that slightly but Davy alluded to it in his interview afterwards that they hadn't been together much over the last 11 days.
"Does it permeate its way into a group in terms of the speculation all week? Possibly it does. Certainly the lethargy of their play would suggest that.
"I think Davy has actually called for a compromise [and] almost a parking of it now in terms of where it's going. Everyone will look forward to the hurling for the summer - that's important.
"The damage that can be done to both camps - it's not irreparable but it certainly doesn't help their cause going forward."
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