Jackie Tyrrell labelled Wexford "spineless" and "spiralling out of control" after the second-half capitulation against Westmeath left them in danger of dropping into the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Having squandered a 17-point lead at home to Westmeath, who scored four second-half goals to claim a shock success, Wexford dropped to second-bottom in the Leinster Championship, and with Kilkenny to come in their final group game on Sunday.
Westmeath host Antrim at the same time in Mullingar and a Saffrons success would leave Wexford needing to beat Kilkenny to avoid relegation.
"It's spiralling out of control," Tyrrell told The Sunday Game. "When you think they played Clare in an All-Ireland quarter-final last year and how close they were...
"[Liam Sheedy and Tipperary] stopped them from getting to an All-Ireland final in 2019, and now they’re facing down the barrel of potentially going down to the Joe McDonagh. It’s actually scary."
Highlights of Westmeath's incredible comeback victory over Wexford in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Wexford looked home and hosed at half-time against Westmeath, leading by 16 points, but they conceded an unanswered 1-04 after the restart and two late goals from substitute Niall Mitchell consigned them to a disastrous defeat.
"For Darragh Egan, sending his troops back out after half-time, 2-15 to 0-05 up, the players... There was no leadership, I would say spineless in lots of ways.
"They totally gave up, didn’t bring the fight at all, and any bit of resistance Westmeath put up, they never came back.
"I actually don’t know where Wexford go from here but it’s so concerning for a proud hurling county."
Jack O’Connor saw his 55th-minute penalty saved while he and brother Conor also missed further goal chances that could have halted Westmeath’s lead charge.
Liam Sheedy witnessed some big turnarounds during his managerial days but he was shocked by Wexford’s collapse.
"It was just basic errors," said the former Tipperary boss. "They look like a group with no confidence, no leadership and it’s coming through in their play.
"I know they got a massive result against Kilkenny in Nowlan Park last year but they look miles away from that. It’s really concerning for them.
"At the moment there’s three teams that can find themselves in the Joe McDonagh next year and Wexford are absolutely one of them."
Sheedy believes the warning signs were there for Wexford during the league, where they lost four of their five matches and shipped six goals at home to Clare.
"They were really impressive in the league last year but their form this year was very poor," said Sheedy.
"To cough up six goals in your home ground, that doesn’t generally happen Wexford teams. There’s a hangover there where the players just aren’t coming to the table.
"Some fringe players might have got a chance that day [against Clare], didn’t step up, and what you’re doing is putting players out because of their pedigree when they’re not 100% [fit].
"Some of the goals they’ve given away – a long ball against Dublin, two long balls against Westmeath. They’re basic errors you wouldn’t expect from a team like Wexford."
