Former Sheffield United manager at centre of investigation in death of Maddy Cusack has claimed list of witnesses has been “manipulated” to side with family of ex-footballer
Maddy Cusack’s former manager has made an extraordinary accusation that a witness list for the coroner’s investigation into the ex-Sheffield United player’s death has been “manipulated” to side against him.
Jonathan Morgan, speaking via video link at a pre-inquest hearing at Chesterfield coroner’s court on Tuesday, claimed that the witnesses are “one sided” towards Ms Cusack’s family, who allege that her relationship with the coach had affected her mental health. The footballer was found dead at her parents’ home in September 2023, aged 27.
“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.
Morgan, who was sacked by Sheffield United after they learnt he had a relationship with a player at a previous club, added: “There’s been a manipulation of information over the past 18 months.”
Written evidence was also read out during the pre-inquest hearing, including from former team-mates of Ms Cusack.
Goalkeeper Fran Kitching told investigators that during one game Morgan said to Ms Cusack: “You’ve always been a ******* fruitcake, Maddy.” Kithcing added that “this type of abuse was not uncommon for Jonathan Morgan.”
Another player, Nat Johnson, claimed in a statement that during another game Morgan shouted at Cusack: “Still a pyscho then, Maddy.”
Morgan strenuously denies making those comments.
An enquiry commissioned by Sheffield United and carried out by former superintendent Dennis Shotton said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.bBut the Football Association have also been investigating Ms Cusack’s death with 45 witnesses interviewed. An update is expected later in 2025.
Dean Armstrong KC, representing Ms Cusack’s family, said they want the inquest to be heard by a jury and that it would focus on Morgan’s “bullying behaviour.”
He added: “There was then and there continues to be a significant difference between the men’s game and the women’s game in terms of resource but also in terms of how people are dealt with. There is that significant public interest in looking at how people conduct themselves within the women’s game and what the support network is for those vulnerable females such as Maddy.”
A date has not yet been decided.
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