Maddy Cusack’s former boss launches extraordinary attack on inquest preparations into her death, claiming witnesses have been ‘manipulated’ to discredit him
The women’s football manager at the centre of an investigation into the death of one of his players has launched an extraordinary attack on preparations for her inquest and says he wants to challenge the ‘integrity’ of some of the witnesses who may testify.
In remarkable scenes at a pre-inquest hearing into 27-year-old Maddy Cusack’s death, former Sheffield United manager Jonathan Morgan insisted the proposed inquest witness list had been ‘manipulated’ to discredit him.
With Ms Cusack’s family listening and watching him speak via video link, the 35-year-old suggested which aspects of her life, including relationships, should be considered.
Morgan, who was sacked by United when it emerged he had a relationship with a player while at a previous club, said: ‘From day one, everyone that’s been interviewed or spoken to has been one sided, with the family. It’s only fair for me to put forward witnesses in that environment to refute and challenge the credibility of some of these witnesses.
He said: ‘There’s been a manipulation of information over the past 18 months.’ Ms Cusack was found dead at her home in Derbyshire in September 2023.
The testimonies of several players, read out in court, provided a sense of what working with Morgan was allegedly like.
The women’s football manager at the centre of an investigation into the death of Maddy Cusack, one of his players, launched an extraordinary attack on preparations for her inquest
The Sheffield United player passed away in 2023 at the age of 27, with an inquest set to be held
Jonathan Morgan said the proposed inquest witness list had been ‘manipulated’ to discredit him
Former goalkeeper Fran Kitching described Morgan telling Ms Cusack: ‘You’ve always been an xxxx fruitcake, haven’t you, Maddy?’
Forward Taome Oliver said Morgan had made her feel ‘so low’ that she ‘could not enjoy something I had given so much to.’
Another described life at the club under Morgan as ‘like being in a prison.’ The hearing heard that at least two players have signed non-disclosure agreements.
Morgan, who represented himself, claimed Ms Kitching held a grievance against him for not signing her to Leicester City.
He said another witness who spoke against him had texted him after Ms Cusack’s death expressing a wish to play for him.
The Cusack family’s barrister, Dean Armstrong KC, said they want the inquest to be heard by a jury and for this case to make Ms Cusack’s death into a broader examination of how women’s football – unlike the men’s game – has no support structure for women who are cast aside. An inquest date has yet to be decided.
