Cusack ‘would still be alive if coach did not join Sheff Utd’, inquest told

Former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack would still be alive if the coach of the women's team had not been employed by the club, her mother has told an inquest.Chesterfield Coroner's Court heard that 27-year-old Ms Cusack was found unresponsive at her home address in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20, 2023 after her manager, Jonathan Morgan, made comments about her weight and relationship to "cut her down to size".Ms Cusack's family sent a written complaint to Sheffield United after her death, outlining issues allegedly stemming from her relationship with Mr Morgan.On Thursday, Ms Cusack's mother Deborah Cusack told the inquest that Mr Morgan was like her daughter's "nemesis", who was referred to as a "prison warden" in messages between team-mates.Under cross-examination by Mr Morgan, who is representing himself in the inquest, Mrs Cusack said: "You need to understand I'm not blaming you for what she did but you made her feel how she felt."It's the little knocks every now and again. You had to come in and cut her down to size."She was one of the best-known players [at Sheffield United]. Like you did at Leicester [City], you needed to be in control."There's a direct line - if you hadn't been employed, Maddy would be here today."Mrs Cusack said her daughter, who also worked in the club's marketing department, was "absolutely devastated" about Mr Morgan joining the club because of her experience of working with him years earlier at Leicester City, and worried that "history was repeating itself".She told the court: "It's like your nemesis returning, isn't it?"We had never come across a character like that before as a family. We don't do the mind games."Speaking about Ms Cusack's time playing under Mr Morgan at Leicester, the mother said: "She had a dreadful, dreadful time there."She was glad to get out of that situation. It was a terrible time."The inquest heard that Mr Morgan called Ms Cusack "bottom heavy" after he joined United, which prompted the player to "t...