Club knew Maddy Cusack had issues with coach - inquest

Bosses at Sheffield United knew player Maddy Cusack had issues with her former coach before they hired him to manage the women's team, an inquest into her death has heard.

Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and pronounced dead the same day.

Carl Shieber, head of football administration at Sheffield United, gave evidence to an inquest into Cusack's death at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Wednesday.

The inquest heard he received an email from former head of women's football Zoe Johnson, before Jonathan Morgan's interview, which said he had a "good CV" but he did not have "the greatest reputation".

In the week after her death, her inquest heard her family sent a written complaint to the club, outlining issues allegedly stemming from her relationship with Morgan.

Morgan coached Cusack from February 2023, while she was at Sheffield United.

The inquest also heard from Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, who said Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.

Cusack's mother Deborah described Morgan as her daughter's "nemesis", adding he had made comments about her weight and relationship to "cut her down to size" and be "in control".

On Monday, the inquest heard Morgan had told the Football Association (FA) that Cusack was "generally a liar", saying she had "omitted a lot of information" when she spoke to her family about his behaviour.

He told the inquest on Tuesday that he had offered Cusack a full-time contract at the club and was "really happy" to have her on his team.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Shieber said he had asked Johnson to clarify what she meant by the comment that Morgan did not have the "greatest reputation" - to which she referenced a "personal comment" on the touchline.

However, in cross-examination, Morgan asked Shieber whether it was "uncommon" for coaches to have an "isolated spat". In response, Shieber said it was not.

Shieber told the inquest in Morgan's interview, Cusack was mentioned along with a couple of other players he had previously worked with.

The inquest heard Morgan acknowledged that he and Cusack had difficulties at Leicester, which he said he had resolved and "was capable of working in a professional manner with her".

"He spoke fondly about Maddy and light-heartedly about [how] there had been some moments or issues," Shieber said.

"I felt Mr Morgan was being very transparent in his relationship with her."

The inquest heard Shieber understood previous issues between the pair were related to "selection", which he said was not "uncommon" for players and managers.

He added: "Mr Morgan said their paths had crossed and were on a good working relationship.

"They even laughed and joked about the time they had at Leicester."

In cross-examination when asked whether Cusack was informed the club was considering appointing Morgan, Shieber said: "In any industry, you would not be approaching the junior staff employees regarding the appointment of a manager."

The inquest continues.

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