Coach told FA Maddy Cusack was a liar, inquest into her death hears

Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Maddy Cusack, 27, was found unconscious at her family home in Derbyshire in September 2023ByWill JeffordEast MidlandsPublished23 minutes agoThe coach of former Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack told the Football Association (FA) she was "generally a liar", an inquest into her death has heard.Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and was pronounced dead the same day.Jonathan Morgan, who coached Cusack from February 2023 while she was at Sheffield United, gave evidence to a two-week inquest at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday.

When responding to the claim, which the inquest heard was made in an account he gave to the FA, Morgan said that she had "omitted a lot of information" when she spoke to her family about his behaviour.The inquest has previously heard from Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, who said Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.Cusack's mother Deborah described Morgan as her daughter's "nemesis", adding he had made comments about her weight and relationship to "cut her down to size" and be "in control".

Giving evidence, Morgan said he had no concerns about his relationship with Cusack when he joined Sheffield United as manager. He had previously released the player when he was a coach at Leicester City, the inquest was told.'Less bubbly'The inquest heard Morgan had given an account of his relationship with Cusack to the FA as part of the investigation following her death.

Within the conversation, he said she was "generally a liar" because she left out detail about their relationship when speaking to her family. "There's definitely evidence to show Maddy omitted information from her family about my support of her," he said. When asked about the way he spoke to Cusack, Morgan said: "I never shouted at Maddy Cusack at Sheffield United."

I've never shouted directly at Maddy at Leicester City."Maddy left Leicester in the January transfer window - it wasn't my wish, I don't think it was Maddy's wish either."Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Coach Jonathan Morgan said he had told Cusack she was "too muscular, too bottom-heavy" to carry out the number of sprints needed with his style of footballThe inquest heard that Cusack had walked up to Morgan on his first day at the Sheffield United training ground and given him a hug.

When questioned about Cusack's lack of playing time after he came to the club, Morgan said she was still recovering from a foot injury when he first picked the side. He then said, due to the form of other players, she had not been selected until his fourth game in charge.Morgan told the inquest Cusack had disclosed her relationship with Riglar at his request to everyone in his team.

Shortly after, he said he had made a joke about the two of them while at the training pitch. He told the inquest the women had laughed and made a joke about his weight in response.The coach was asked about a comment he had made to Cusack during a meeting.

Morgan said he had told the player she was "too muscular, too bottom-heavy" to carry out the number of sprints needed with his style of football.He said her strength and conditioning training was then changed, and her running stays were "much better" by the end of the season.Morgan said he started to see a difference in Cusack's behaviour in August 2023.

"She was just less bubbly, less energetic," he said. Morgan said he arranged a meeting with Cusack on 4 September, and afterwards contacted the club doctor about her health. He told the doctor he thought "something was bothering Maddy", and that she might need some help.

Earlier in the inquest, a former team-mate of Cusack told the court her death was "definitely preventable". Nina Wilson said Morgan, who is representing himself at the inquest, had left a number of players feeling "ostracised and isolated". The inquest continues.

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