Concerns about coaching and club resources
An inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack, a former Sheffield United footballer, has heard testimony from her mother, Deborah Cusack, who described the women’s team head coach, Jonathan Morgan, as her daughter’s “nemesis.” Deborah Cusack stated that if Morgan had not been employed, her daughter would still be alive. Morgan, who joined the club in February 2023, is representing himself in the inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court.
Deborah Cusack alleged that Morgan made comments about her daughter’s weight and relationship, which she believed were intended to “cut her down to size” and assert control. She clarified that she was not blaming Morgan for her daughter’s actions but for how he made her feel. Maddy Cusack had previously played under Morgan at Leicester City and was reportedly “so happy to leave” in 2019 to join Sheffield United, only to be “dismayed” when he joined the Blades in February 2023.
The court heard that Morgan allegedly called Maddy “bottom heavy” after joining the club, which prompted her to try to become “fitter and thinner” through changes to her eating habits and additional runs after training. Deborah Cusack maintained that her daughter had no prior mental health issues, describing her as a “bright, bubbly confident girl.”
Francesca Carr, who served as the women’s team physio for Sheffield United between 2021 and 2024, testified that the club lacked sufficient resources to support its women’s team players during the transition to full-time training in the summer of 2023. Carr described the transition as “rushed” and noted that staff often performed duties beyond their designated roles, such as preparing meals for the team. She also mentioned that players might not have known where to seek help from the club’s human resources team due to a change in training venue.
Carr expressed concerns about the mental wellbeing of several squad members, stating that some players caused her more worry than Cusack. She also recalled Cusack expressing anxieties about her housing situation and her girlfriend being distant. Carr recounted an incident where Cusack was “heartbroken” after mistakenly going to the wrong training ground, describing her reaction as “excessive” and not normal.
Relationship with coach and club environment
Grace Riglar, Maddy Cusack’s girlfriend and a former Sheffield United player, told the inquest that Cusack was anxious about Morgan joining the club due to her past experiences with him at Leicester City. Riglar recalled an instance where Morgan allegedly called Cusack a “psycho” from the sideline during a match, which made Cusack uncomfortable. Riglar also stated that Cusack felt Morgan’s decision to not include her in the starting line-up for matches was a “personal attack” and that he was “playing mind games” with her.
Riglar further testified that Morgan made comments about Cusack’s relationship, including calling Riglar “Mrs Cusack” in front of teammates, which made Cusack uncomfortable as she preferred to keep her relationship professional and separate from football. Riglar also corroborated claims that Morgan made a comment about Cusack’s weight, leading Cusack to alter her eating and exercise routines, despite already being one of the team’s fittest players.
Sophie Barker, Cusack’s former captain at Sheffield United and roommate, linked Cusack’s decline to worries about affording her house and Riglar’s move to play for Lewes. Barker stated that Cusack was concerned about Riglar leaving her and about her financial ability to maintain her home if she stopped playing football. When questioned by Morgan, Barker said she had not witnessed him exhibit negative behaviours towards Cusack, describing his actions as typical managerial conduct.
The inquest also heard about the “shambolic” contract process for Cusack’s full-time contract with Sheffield United in June 2023. Deborah Cusack stated that her daughter was “relieved but surprised” by the offer, but also “anxious” about balancing her roles, as her combined salary was less than before. She also mentioned that players sidelined by Morgan would communicate via text messages to support each other.
Eoin Doyle, Cusack’s line manager in Sheffield United‘s marketing department, described Cusack as anxious upon Morgan’s arrival. Doyle recalled a conversation with Cusack in August 2023 where she discussed various concerns, including her housing, career progression, and personal matters. He noted that she was not the “Maddy I knew” and appeared “sunken into herself.” Doyle also mentioned that Morgan referred to Cusack as “love sick” during a conversation about their shared concerns for her, which Doyle considered “ill-judged.”
The inquest heard that Cusack’s medical records from her time at Sheffield United had been lost. Dr. Subhashis Basu, the club’s doctor, stated that he did not immediately report the data loss to the coronial investigation but did raise it eventually. The inquest continues with further testimony scheduled from club staff members and Stephen Bettis, the chief executive of Sheffield United, on July 8.
Source: bbc.com
