Maddy Cusack’s former teammate tells inquest her death was ‘definitely preventable’

Maddy Cusack’s former teammate tells inquest her death was ‘definitely preventable’ Maddy Cusack’s former teammate spoke at an inquest on Friday following Cusack’s death in 2023 - Bookmark The death of Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack was "definitely preventable", a former teammate has told an inquest, as she outlined urgent changes needed to support player welfare in the women’s game. Chesterfield Coroner’s Court heard this week that Ms Cusack, 27, was found unresponsive at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023. Her family had sent a written complaint to Sheffield United in the week following her death, detailing issues allegedly stemming from her relationship with the club’s then-coach, Jonathan Morgan. Nina Wilson, a former teammate of Ms Cusack, testified on Friday that Mr Morgan had left a number of players feeling "ostracised and isolated". She claimed it was widely known in various dressing rooms that there was "a Morgan cult" at his former club, Leicester. "I’d been at a number of clubs before Sheffield United in the same league and whenever I’d played against Jonathan Morgan’s teams before, those teams were aware it was a Morgan cult," Ms Wilson stated. "That was talked about in various changing rooms, not just Sheffield. Everyone knew Jonathan Morgan didn’t treat his players well, and was allowed to do what he wanted because his family were in charge (at Leicester)." Ms Wilson suggested Ms Cusack would have been deterred from raising concerns after witnessing the treatment she herself had allegedly received at United. "When I tried to escalate concerns, I was told he (Morgan) was the manager and he can do what he wants," Ms Wilson said. "I didn’t get any support, any signposting. That was the answer – that he was the manager. Maddy was aware of that." Asked about a previous statement where she expressed anger and belief that Ms Cusack’s death could have been prevented, Ms Wilson reiterated: "It was definitely preventable." She then proposed a series of recommendations for the inquest, emphasising the importance of preventing similar tragedies. These included mandatory psychologists at WSL2 clubs, dedicated player care personnel, and reforms to the Football Association’s whistleblowing and grievance procedures. "We didn’t know where to go and we weren’t listened to," she added. Earlier on Friday, coroner Sophie Cartwright referenced a statement from former Sheffield United doctor Subhashis Basu, who described the lack of support for players and staff during the transition from full-time to part-time over the summer of 2023 as a "huge oversight" by the club. He added that it "must have been foreseeable" that such a change would impact well-being. Despite the allegations, an investigation launched in response to the Cusack family’s complaint in 2023 found no evidence of wrongdoing by anyone at the club. Ms Wilson told the inquest Mr Morgan left players feeling "on edge", adding: "I felt there were a number of players who were ostracised and isolated. The players that were positive about him seemed to always be in his office, it created distrust." She observed that Ms Cusack, initially an "exceptionally confident" person, became "nervous and withdrawn" after Mr Morgan’s appointment in February 2023. Another former teammate, Naomi Hartley, was asked by Mr Morgan, who is representing himself at the inquest, if she saw him bullying anyone. She replied: "No, I think a lot of people were intimidated by you." The inquest is set to continue on Monday, when Mr Morgan is expected to give evidence. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. [Image text:] MADDY CUSACK 1995-2023