25 January 2024 , 13:32
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The FA is set to launch an investigation into the death of former Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack after her family alleged the behaviour of manager Jonathan Morgan contributed to her deteriorating mental health.
Cusack was just 27 when she died at her home in Derbyshire on September 20. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her passing and an inquest was opened and adjourned in October.
A week after her death, Cusack's parents - David and Deborah - filed a seven-page letter of complaint to Sheffield United relating to the footballer's final seven months at the club. In the letter, it is alleged that Morgan showed "personal antipathy" towards Cusack after he was appointed head coach of the women's team last February.
The footballer's parents claim this contributed to a significant deterioration in their daughter's mental health - a claim that Morgan has strenuously denied. An external inquiry, commissioned by Sheffield United, concluded in December that there was no evidence of bullying or inappropriate behaviour towards Cusack or any other player.
As a result, Morgan - who stepped away from his role while the inquiry was ongoing - was free to return to the dugout for his team's FA Women's Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on January 14. However, the FA confirmed earlier this month they were reviewing the situation and, after being presented with new information in a meeting with Cusack's family this week, Mirror Football understands the governing body will has launched their own investigation which is ongoing.
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Jonathan Morgan returned to the dugout earlier this month (PA)Cusack played under Morgan at previous club Leicester, who she left in 2019. As reported by The Athletic, among the complaints from her family include allegations Cusack opted to leave Leicester as she felt Morgan disliked her. Cusack reportedly alleged Morgan called her a ‘“psycho” during a match for Sheffield United against his former club Burnley - a claim he denies. His subsequent appointment at Sheffield United is claimed to have made her ‘anxious’.
Morgan has also been accused of dropping Cusack from the team while complaining she was overweight. Again, he has denied this claim, instead insisting he had asked her to improve her conditioning while also providing a training programme as Cusack was behind the fitness levels of her team-mates, according to tests carried out by the Club.
Cusack was made vice-captain by Morgan and was also working as a marketing executive for the club alongside playing. Her family claim the pressure and anxiety which stemmed from her relationship with Morgan led her to become unwell and move back into the family home after being prescribed medication.
Speaking in November, Cusack's mother Deborah felt her daughter's "spirit was broken" as she struggled to juggle the demands of playing football on a salary of around £6,000 per year.
Maddy Cusack starred for Sheffield United. (Getty)"Last year their players were part-time, which means that they all had full-time jobs and trained three times a week, played on a Sunday, often travelled on a Saturday to play on a Sunday, for a minimal amount of money," Mrs Cusack said, via BBC. "It's too much, the pressures are way too much.
"She worried about her career in football, because football to her was everything. So to have that threatened in any way, shape or form, hurt. Her spirit was broken, that's the best way that I can describe it to you."
Mirror Football approached the FA who declined to comment.