Former Deise captain and All-Star, Eoin Kelly, believes Waterford are at risk of becoming like Offaly if their current rot isn't addressed.
The Deise are now resigned to another short summer following their tame Munster Senior Hurling Championship at the hands of Clare on Saturday.
Davy Fitzgerald, his players and the county board have been subjected to a barrage of criticism in the aftermath, with many now questioning where Waterford goes from here.
"We've taken our foot off the pedal in Waterford from underage all the way up. That's where the problems lie. We've had no wins at minor, no wins at U20 and no wins at senior so far. As Ken McGrath said, we haven't won a game in minor competitively in a few years and it's almost the same case with the U20s. I don't know what we're doing here or where we're trying to go. Do we want to go back playing in the Joe McDonagh Cup or what? It's just not good."
"I didn't see anything in the Clare game", he continued. "It's like they picked up the lads on the way to the match, threw them out on the pitch and said go out and play there."
Kelly clarified that it wasn't his intention to "cut" the management team of Davy Fitzgerald, Eoin Kelly or Peter Queally - but he is concerned with where Waterford hurling is headed toward.
"They're good friends of mine and they have been for a long time so I'm not going to slate any of them. At the end of the day, you select 15 men and they go out on the field and represent Waterford. You put on the jersey and fight and die with your boots on. I didn't see that. Blame Davy Fitz all you want, I don't know what's wrong. It's more than just the senior team that's gone wrong here now in Waterford."
"We're going back now to where Offaly hurling is", said Kelly. "Offaly hurling was brilliant and then it just fell apart. Waterford is heading the same way and it needs to change. Waterford will be playing against Kildare, Laois and all these crowds in the Joe McDonagh Cup and it'll be too late."
