Former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack's coach had called her a 'psycho' and was playing mind games with her before her death, an inquest has heard.
Chesterfield Coroner's Court heard that Jonathan Morgan also made comments about Ms Cusack's weight and relationship while he was the manager of United's women's team, which made her feel uncomfortable.
The 27-year-old was found unconscious by her father at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20 2023, and she died the same day.
Fellow Player Testifies About Coach's Behavior
Fellow professional footballer Grace Riglar, who played for United at the same time as Ms Cusack and was in a relationship with her, said the player was 'anxious' about Mr Morgan joining the club in February 2023 after her experience of working with him at Leicester City years earlier.
She told the inquest on Tuesday: 'I think it was stuff she told me about her previous experience prior to Jonathan coming to Sheffield.'
'I think she said that they played a game against a team while Jonathan was the manager. She had done something on the pitch and Jonathan called her a psycho from the sideline.'
'I don't think she let anyone know those types of comments affected her but they did and they made her uncomfortable.'
Impact on Playing Time and Mental Health
Ms Riglar said Mr Morgan joining United was a big cause of Ms Cusack's stress, which coincided with her being unhappy there. She added that Ms Cusack thought the coach made a 'personal attack' on her by not putting her in the starting line-up for matches.
She told the court: 'She was used to starting every game, she was an important member of the team. When Jonathan came, she was in and out from the starting team a bit.'
'Her going from starting to being on the bench quite a lot, she saw that as a setback. That impacted her a lot.'
'I just think she almost felt like it was a bit of a personal attack and that Jonathan was playing mind games with her by starting her one week and dropping her the next.'
Comments on Relationship and Weight
Ms Riglar told the inquest that Mr Morgan also made comments about Ms Cusack's relationship with her. When Mr Morgan joined United, Ms Riglar said, he told the players in the first meeting that if anyone was in a relationship within the team, they had to tell him.
Ms Riglar said: 'She found it uncomfortable when Jonathan would call me 'Mrs Cusack', especially in front of other players.'
'We wanted to keep our relationship very professional. The football side and relationship side were very separate.'
Ms Riglar told the court that Mr Morgan made a comment about Ms Cusack's weight and she changed her eating and exercise habits, including by not eating carbohydrates, skipping breakfast and going for extra runs after training.
Ms Riglar added: 'She was one of the fittest players on the team anyway.'
Paranoia and Lack of Support
The footballer told the coroner that Ms Cusack had become 'paranoid' at the start of the new season. She added: 'She didn't really have anyone she could speak to without it getting back to Jonathan.'
The inquest heard Ms Cusack had a sick note from a doctor to have time off football and her marketing job at United. She had also been prescribed anti-anxiety medication, the inquest has been told.
Colleague's Evidence
Eoin Doyle, who worked with Ms Cusack in United's marketing department, gave evidence on Tuesday afternoon. He said Mr Morgan called Ms Cusack 'love sick' when the two of them were discussing their concerns about her, referencing the fact Ms Riglar had recently moved from United to a different club.
Asked by Mr Morgan, who is representing himself in the inquest, if he interpreted the 'love sick' comment as malicious, Mr Doyle said he did not. Mr Doyle said: 'I took it as concern but I still think (it was) ill-judged.'
Future Plans
Ms Cusack told her girlfriend before her death that she wanted to move to Dubai and be a flight attendant, and had been looking for a new job online. Ms Riglar told the coroner: 'She didn't want to go back to playing football. I don't think she really knew how to get out of that situation.'
The inquest continues.
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