Jonathan Morgan, the manager at the centre of the Football Association’s investigation into the Maddy Cusack tragedy, has agreed to give evidence at an inquest into her death.
At a pre-trial review at Chesterfield coroner’s court on Monday, Morgan came face to face with Cusack’s family for the first time since her death and confirmed he had given evidence to the FA’s year-long inquiry.
That inquiry has now been completed, with more than 40 witnesses interviewed, and the FA will consider the findings before deciding what needs to happen next.
Stephen Walsh, the FA’s barrister, told the hearing the report was being assessed by independent counsel and would be supplied to the coroner’s court by Friday. “Substantial elements of the report are relevant to a disciplinary investigation under FA rules,” he added.
Cusack, 27, took her own life in September 2023, leading to her family putting together a seven-page, 3,350-word complaint about her last seven months with Sheffield United — coinciding with the appointment of Morgan as their women’s team manager the previous February.
Morgan has always denied contributing to Cusack’s emotional anguish, stating that they had a normal working relationship and that he had tried to help her career.
However, the family’s complaint led to the FA opening an investigation last January to examine the alleged issues between Cusack and Morgan in Sheffield and, before that, when they were player and manager at Leicester City from 2018-19.
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Sitting directly behind Cusack’s family in court, Morgan raised his arm on several occasions to indicate to the coroner, Sophie Cartwright, that he would like to speak. He told the hearing that he was taking legal advice with a view to hiring a solicitor ahead of the two-day inquest on April 16 and 17.
Morgan has been designated, in the legal term, a “properly interested person,” meaning he can see what has been submitted to the court, give his own evidence and ask questions of other witnesses.
Those witnesses will include Maddy’s parents, David and Deborah, as well as the former United player Grace Riglar, the head of HR Vicki Anderson and lead physiotherapist Frankie Carr.
Cusack died in September 2023 (George Wood/Getty Images)
Morgan was previously cleared in an independent inquiry, commissioned by the club, that concluded in December 2023 with the chief executive, Stephen Bettis, writing to Cusack’s family to confirm no disciplinary action was being taken.
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In his letter to the family, Bettis stated that none of the people interviewed had “heard or witnessed any bullying or inappropriate behaviour” towards Cusack, or any other player. Bettis did, however, acknowledge that Morgan’s behaviour “divided opinion” among the people interviewed. Some found him supportive and caring. Others described his style of management as “isolating some players, quite authoritative and intimidating.”
Cusack’s family say that was her experience with Morgan and that it damaged her mental health at a time when the former England Under-19 international was working at Bramall Lane as a marketing executive as well as being the club’s longest-serving player.
Bettis was in Chesterfield for the inquest pre-trial review, accompanied by Anderson and the club’s legal representatives.
Morgan lost his job in February last year after a former Leicester player, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Athletic she had a secret relationship with him for almost three years while he, in his 20s, was managing the club.
The player in question said she was 17 when the relationship started, describing herself as naive for her age, and accusing Morgan of taking advantage of her immaturity in what her mother described as an “immoral and inappropriate” relationship.
On Monday’s pre-trial review, an FA spokesperson said: “FA Spokesperson: “We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Maddy Cusack in September 2023, and our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones. Following the conclusion of Sheffield United FC’s independent investigation, we made the decision to open our own formal investigation under our jurisdiction within football.
“We are currently in the process of carrying out a full and thorough investigation to specifically establish if there have been any breaches of FA rules. The full details of our extensive investigation, and all of the evidence obtained, are being independently reviewed by a King’s Counsel Barrister. We are continuing to assist the Coroner with her investigation.”
(Matt McNulty – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
