An inquest has heard that Jonathan Morgan, the coach of former Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack, described her as “generally a liar” in a statement to the Football Association following her death in September 2023.
The Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told that Cusack, 27, was found unresponsive at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023, days after Morgan raised concerns about her weight and relationship during a team session.
Morgan’s comments to the FA investigation were read aloud at the hearing. He told the court that his description of Cusack as a liar stemmed from discrepancies he said emerged after her death, including claims that she had withheld information from her family about support he said he had provided to her.
What the inquest revealed about Morgan’s account
Morgan, who joined Sheffield United in February 2023, insisted that Cusack’s omission of details to her family had created a “one-sided” picture. He argued that the FA’s investigation had not portrayed events “factually or correctly” regarding how Cusack was feeling at the time.
The court heard that Cusack did not play in Morgan’s first match in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic on 25 February 2023, despite featuring for the full 90 minutes the previous week. Morgan attributed her absence to an injury Cusack sustained before his arrival, denying that he had excluded her to “cut her down to size.”
Morgan also disputed a claim made by Cusack’s mother, Deborah Cusack, that he had addressed Cusack and her girlfriend, team-mate Grace Riglar, as “Mrs Cusack” in front of other players. He described the remark as “tongue-in-cheek banter,” insisting he had said, “Here come the girlfriends.”
Why this testimony matters now
The inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Cusack’s death, which her family linked to issues arising from her relationship with Morgan. A written complaint sent to Sheffield United after her death alleged that Morgan’s comments about her weight and relationship contributed to her distress.
Morgan’s evidence to the FA, in which he characterised Cusack as a liar, has now been placed before the coroner. His account frames the dispute as a breakdown in communication rather than a targeted campaign against Cusack, but it underscores the tensions that persisted after her death.
For Cusack’s family, the hearing represents an opportunity to scrutinise the environment she faced at the club. Deborah Cusack previously told the inquest that her daughter would have been “absolutely humiliated beyond belief” by the “Mrs Cusack” comment, a moment she described as emblematic of broader disrespect.
What comes next
The inquest continues to examine the interactions between Cusack and Morgan, as well as the club’s response to the complaints raised by her family. Morgan’s insistence that his remarks were intended as banter contrasts with the family’s portrayal of a pattern of behaviour that they believe contributed to Cusack’s state of mind.
Sheffield United has not publicly commented on the ongoing inquest. The outcome may influence how the club addresses internal complaints and the support provided to players in similar circumstances.
For now, the testimony serves as a reminder of the human cost when professional disputes spill into personal spaces, and of the need for clear, documented communication in football’s high-pressure environments.
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