David Cusack, father of the late Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack, has told an inquest that the behaviour of manager Jonathan Morgan was the most significant cause of his daughter's deteriorating mental health. Cusack, 27, was found dead at her family home in Derbyshire on 20 September 2023.
Father's testimony
David Cusack told Chesterfield coroner's court that his daughter was 'dismayed by the possibility of him coming back into her life' when she learned that Morgan was set to be appointed by Sheffield United in February 2023. Maddy had played under Morgan at Leicester City for a brief spell in 2018. David Cusack said Morgan was the 'principal reason' she decided to leave Leicester during the 2018-19 season, moving to Sheffield United in the winter transfer window. He described Morgan's managerial style as 'my way or the highway', adding: 'She'd never come across a character like him before. The way he dealt with people, his man-management, when you're in, you're in, when you're out, you're out.'
Asked what he believed was the single most significant cause of the deterioration in his daughter's mental health, David Cusack replied: 'It was Mr Morgan's behaviour towards her, as simple as that.' He added that 'other narratives being pushed around' were a 'smokescreen' and wanted Morgan to be 'held responsible', claiming the club had 'backed the wrong horse' by not immediately suspending Morgan.
Morgan's questioning
Morgan, who was sacked by Sheffield United in February 2024 and is representing himself at the inquest, asked David Cusack more than 60 questions. He disputed the father's description that Maddy had not played in Morgan's first three games in charge, saying she had been dealing with an injury. Morgan drew shocked expressions from the courtroom when he asked: 'The statistics showed there were more wins without Maddy in the team, than with her in it – what would you have done?' David Cusack replied: 'I'm not a football coach, I've no idea. I've never interfered [with any coach's team selections]. You and I have hardly spoken.'
Morgan then interjected: 'If we've hardly spoken, how would you have a fair assessment of me?' David Cusack answered firmly: 'She told me what she told me,' before adding that a 'huge number of people' had submitted evidence about Morgan to an FA investigation, which has not been made public.
Background and evidence
Maddy Cusack, the first player to reach 100 appearances for Sheffield United's women, also worked in the club's marketing department. She signed a professional contract in summer 2023, earning £18,000 a year from football, up from £6,000 the previous season when playing part-time, excluding her marketing salary. David Cusack said his daughter had been anxious about juggling both roles. Morgan claimed he made Maddy's lunches to ease her time-management pressures and gave her greater leeway around training times, something David Cusack said his daughter never mentioned.
The inquest also heard from Dr Mobeen Bhatti, who issued Maddy Cusack with a sicknote in September 2023. Dr Bhatti said Cusack asked for her mental health problems and anxiety not to be specifically mentioned in the diagnosis provided to Sheffield United, because she did not want to be 'stigmatised'.
Ongoing proceedings
Morgan, who was at Burnley between his spells at Leicester and Sheffield United, is scheduled to give evidence next Monday. On Tuesday, the inquest will hear from Cusack's partner and mother, followed by Sheffield United staff. The club's own investigation, concluded in December 2023, found no evidence of wrongdoing. The inquest continues and could take up to two weeks.
