Former Westmeath and Offaly forward PJ Ward says his criticism of Laois for making Tomas O Flatharta their manager in late 2013 has been justified.

The Kerryman, who was a surprise replacement for Justin McNulty in October 2013, is expected to step down after yesterday's disastrous All-Ireland football qualifier defeat to Antrim at O'Moore Park. It was the O'Moore County's second championship loss in a week, having succumbed heavily to Kildare in their Leinster SFC quarter-final replay yesterday week.

Ward, who is a football analyst on Midlands 103, fell out of favour with O Flatharta when he was Westmeath manager in 2006 and duly transferred to neighbours Offaly the following year. However, the Kilbeggan man insists this had nothing to do with his assertion that O Flatharta was the wrong appointment for Laois.

He tweeted:

3/3 in the 1st Rd of the Qualifiers to Fermanagh & Antrim today I was right about Laois taking a step in the wrong direction @MidlandsSport

- PJ Ward (@PJWard14) June 20, 2015

2/3 have a grudge against the manager from my time with Westmeath"so today after 2 seasons with Laois bowing out for 2nd yr @MidlandsSport

- PJ Ward (@PJWard14) June 20, 2015

2014 I said about a poor management appointment for Laois footballers & took a lot of criticism for it that "I seem to 1/3 @MidlandsSport

- PJ Ward (@PJWard14) June 20, 2015

Of course, Laois didn't lose to Fermanagh in the first round of last year's All-Ireland qualifiers. They won by a point and also edged out Wexford before losing to Tipperary in round three. Ward corrected this in a later tweet.

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