An inquest into the death of footballer Maddy Cusack has heard that the 27-year-old was concerned she would be stigmatised by Sheffield United and its then-head coach Jonathan Morgan if she disclosed her mental health problems.

Cusack was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, by her father, David Cusack, on September 20, 2023. An inquest into her death began at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday, June 29.

David Cusack told the court that his daughter's departure from Leicester City in 2019 was primarily due to a strained relationship with Morgan, who she had previously worked with. He stated that she had "never come across a character like that before in football."

According to her father, Morgan's family owned Leicester City Women's team at the time, and he believed Maddy felt pressure to leave the club when promotion appeared unlikely.

"I believe that the family decided that they wanted to offload players," David Cusack said. "Either by paying contracts up – which is expensive – or you make life so unpleasant for them that they leave."

He described her move to Sheffield United as a positive one, where she was fulfilled by her part-time playing role alongside her paid work with the club's Community Trust. She also purchased a new home, which her father said she was "very proud of."

Maddy Cusack, who held a First-Class Honours degree, joined the club's marketing department as a marketing executive alongside her football career. She became the first Sheffield United player to reach 100 appearances.

Morgan was appointed Sheffield United's head coach in February 2022. Her father described this as a moment that left Maddy "dismayed by the possibility of him coming back into her life."

"From when he was appointed, she played seldom. She took it that it was her 'here we go again'," David Cusack stated.

Morgan, who was present at the inquest, has denied any wrongdoing. He claimed he was informed Maddy had a foot injury, which he cited as the reason for her absence from the starting lineup for his initial three games, despite her regular starts prior to his appointment.

By the summer of 2022, Maddy had been offered a new contract. However, her father suggested that Morgan "didn't want to offer Maddy a new contract" and that her marketing role meant she was "forced on him."

"She became unwell in July and I think that was a result of the contract," David Cusack said. "She'd had to wait and it never materialised until the end of June. She was told that there was no money left."

He added that Maddy "lost her bounce. She was anxious. She was worried about how she was going to combine the two roles. She just lost her joie de vivre."

In the weeks preceding her death, Maddy's parents arranged for her to see a private psychotherapist, who prescribed antidepressants and sleeping pills. David Cusack stated that Maddy "didn't want" Morgan or the club to know about her mental health issues.

"She felt that if she disclosed her mental health issues – she saw it happen to other people – that would be an excuse and she would be out," he told the court. "I'm not saying that's what would have happened, but that's how she felt."

He also said, "She felt like the club didn't take the women's football team that seriously. If it's a battle between me and the manager, they'll go with Mr Morgan. That's what she believed."

Asked about Maddy's view of Morgan, her father replied: "It was his way of dealing with people. Like it was 'my way or the highway'. He couldn't deal with established players because they could see through him."

Morgan's defence stated he had brought Maddy lunch when she was short on time for her marketing job and worked to secure her a new contract. He also suggested that players who have provided evidence to the Cusack family have "misrepresented" him.

David Cusack responded that the players "sought us out. The general tenet was that when you were a favourite you were a favourite, but when you weren't it got very unpleasant."

Less than a week after her death, the Cusack family submitted a formal complaint to the club regarding her treatment and mental wellbeing.

"I wanted to make sure the club knew what had happened. I wanted Mr Morgan to be held responsible. We didn't want to let it go and move on," David said. He dismissed other narratives regarding her sexuality or money worries as "a smokescreen."

Sheffield United conducted an internal investigation, concluding in December 2023 with no evidence of misconduct found. In February 2024, the club dismissed Morgan following the emergence of information about a relationship he had with a player during his previous tenure at Leicester City. The club stated this dismissal was unrelated to the FA's investigation, though it was welcomed by the Cusack family.

The inquest continues.