Colm O'Rourke said Cork players looked as though they lacked the "basic skills of the game" in their eight-point defeat to Meath on Sunday.
Both sides went into the match searching for their first win in Division 2. It was Meath who eased relegation concerns.
"Meath have improved substantially, and had a couple of extra players back, but Cork were pathetic," O'Rourke, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Meath, said on RTÉ's League Sunday.
'Cork look like a side who in danger of going down'
"They lacked even the basic skills of the game. It's no surprise that they are at the bottom of the second division. They look as if they are going the whole way down."
After a lowlight reel put the spotlight on Cork's errors, O'Rourke continued: "I think there were about 15 of those to choose from throughout the game.
"Cork look like a side who are in danger of going down to the third division, and ending up in the Tailteann Cup. They are in the same side of the draw as Kerry, and I cannot see them winning that one. If they are relegated, they'll be playing in the second grade competition.
"Nobody should have any pity for anybody who is in that competition. You are getting seven league matches, and a couple of championship matches. So, if you're not able to win from that position, then you can have no complaints."
13 March 2022; Kieran Histon of Cork reacts after fouling Jason Scully of Meath, left, resulting in a penalty, converted by Jordan Morris of Meath, right, during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Meath and Cork at Páirc Táilteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Colm Cooper added: "Cork are so far off the pace at the moment, they need a three-year plan. They're not going to fix this in six months, nine months, 12 months. It was a really poor performance. It's not just today [that they were disjointed], that's going on for a while now.
"Keith Ricken has a huge job on his hands. He's going to introduce a lot of young players. It doesn't bode well for Munster Championship."
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