An inquest into the death of Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack, who was found dead at her family home in September 2023, has revealed contentious remarks made by her head coach Jonathan Morgan. The session, which began on June 29, included testimony from Morgan, who addressed allegations regarding his conduct towards Cusack, who was 27 at the time of her death.

During the hearing, it emerged that Morgan described Cusack as “generally a liar” in a statement submitted to the Football Association (FA) in May 2024. The FA had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cusack’s death earlier that year, following an independent inquiry commissioned by Sheffield United the previous December that found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Morgan defended his comment by stating that he believed information about his support for Cusack had been misrepresented. He suggested that Cusack withheld details from her family, asserting that she was not the "happy-go-lucky" figure her parents had portrayed publicly. He additionally claimed that Cusack sometimes undermined fellow players, describing such behavior as not uncommon in the competitive environment of professional football.

The court also heard Morgan’s response to specific allegations raised by Cusack’s family. Morgan denied ever raising his voice directly at Cusack while she was under his coaching at Sheffield United or at his prior tenure with Leicester City. Regarding a remark made to Cusack about being “bottom-heavy,” Morgan clarified that it referred to her muscular leg development resulting from a training regime focused heavily on this area, rather than any criticism of her weight. He said the comment aimed to highlight her physical strengths, noting that Cusack responded positively by enhancing her acceleration and deceleration abilities in line with his team’s high-pressing style of play.

Testimony also touched on Cusack’s personal life. She had been in a relationship with teammate Grace Riglar, and the family alleged that Morgan humiliated Cusack by referring to Riglar as “Mrs Cusack.” Morgan denied this accusation but admitted to making a joking remark—“Here come the girlfriends”—when passing the pair on the training ground. He argued that Cusack herself had been known to make light-hearted comments about relationships within the squad.

Cusack’s family has blamed Morgan for negatively affecting her mental health following his appointment as Sheffield United’s head coach in February 2023, with her mother asserting in court that the hiring of Morgan contributed to her daughter’s death. Morgan, however, denied any wrongdoing or responsibility.

The inquest is ongoing, with Sheffield United representatives scheduled to provide evidence following Morgan’s testimony. The Football Association is expected to appear later in the week.