Maddy Cusack’s father tells inquest she was dismayed at Sheffield United manager’s return

Maddy Cusack's father told an inquest that the Sheffield United manager's behavior was the primary cause of her declining mental health.

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dismayed by the possibility of him coming back into her life

David Cusack stated his daughter was dismayed by the manager's potential return and described his management style as "my way or the highway." He told Chesterfield coroner’s court that Jonathan Morgan's behavior towards his daughter was the "principal reason" for her mental health deterioration. Cusack dismissed other narratives as a "smokescreen" and called for Morgan to be held responsible.

Cusack claimed the club had "backed the wrong horse" by not suspending Morgan, who was appointed in February 2023. Cusack's daughter had played under Morgan at Leicester for a brief spell in 2018 and had previously decided to leave the club due to his management style. She was found dead at her family home on September 20, 2023, at age 27.

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principal reason

Morgan, who is representing himself at the inquest, disputed Cusack's father's account. He accused the father of relying on hearsay and questioned statistics about the team's wins with and without Cusack. Morgan claimed Cusack had missed games due to injury, not because of his management decisions.

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my way or the highway

The inquest will hear from Cusack's partner and mother next week, followed by Sheffield United staff. The club's internal investigation in December 2023 found no evidence of wrongdoing. Morgan was sacked by Sheffield United in February 2024.

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It was Mr Morgan’s behaviour towards her, as simple as that.