Maddy Cusack’s family ‘welcome’ news of Jonathan Morgan’s sacking as Sheffield United Women’s boss… as the FA continue investigation into former Blades star’s death

Maddy Cusack’s family have spoken publicly for the first time since Jonathan Morgan was sacked as manager of Sheffield United Women.

The Blades sacked Morgan after it emerged he had a relationship with a player when he was at a previous club.

Morgan has been at the centre of an investigation concerning the death of his former player, Cusack, after her family complained about his alleged behaviour towards her.

Now, following his sacking on Friday, Cusack’s family released a short statement via their Maddy Cusack foundation page.

‘On Friday afternoon, we learnt on social media of the departure of Jonathan Morgan. We as a family welcome this development,’ it began.

The family produced a short statement on Sunday afternoon on the Cusack Foundation page

Sheffield United manager Morgan (pictured) was sacked from his position on Friday evening

‘We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the unwavering loyalty, support and love shown to Maddy from football clubs from around the country and fans alike. We truly appreciate this.

“This spirit I had so fiercely protected was allowed to be broken.” Fierce, determined & spirited.’

A third-party investigation, conducted on behalf of the Blades, found no evidence of wrongdoing and cleared Morgan to return to work in December following the family’s initial complaint about how Cusack was treated.

But his sacking comes a week after Mail Sport revealed the Football Association had opened a fresh inquiry into the circumstances around Cusack’s death. The investigation remains ongoing. 

Sheffield United said Morgan’s position had become ‘untenable’ after new information came to light regarding his conduct before arriving at Bramall Lane.

Mail Sport have led the way on the story at Sheffield United in the aftermath of Cusack’s death

Cusack’s father has claimed his daughter would still be alive if Morgan hadn’t been appointed Sheffield United manager

A statement from the club read: ‘Sheffield United can confirm that Head Coach of Sheffield United Women’s team, Jonathan Morgan, has departed the Club.

‘Due to new information that has come to light within the last few days with regards to Mr Morgan’s conduct before arriving at Bramall Lane, the Club has reached the conclusion that Mr Morgan’s position is no longer tenable and his employment with the Club has been terminated.

‘Luke Turner has agreed to take the role of interim Head Coach for the foreseeable future, including Sunday’s Women’s Championship fixture at Durham Women.’

Morgan has also been sacked by Tongue Tied Management, the agency which represented him.

The FA have launched a fresh investigation following new information presented by Cusack’s family, which includes her sister (second left) and mother (second right)

‘In the last 24hrs we have learnt new information regarding Jonathan Morgan and a relationship with a player under his charge,’ a TTM statement read. 

‘We will no longer be working with him in any capacity and the termination of our relationship is with immediate effect.

‘The termination of this contract is a critical measure in preserving the integrity of our agency.

‘We are absolute in our view that safeguarding standards and processes should apply to all athletes be they male or female. 

‘At Tongue Tied Management we are committed to maintaining an environment of respect, integrity, trust and accountability within the sports industry.’

Morgan stepped away from his duties in September before later returning to the dugout

Mail Sport revealed in October that Morgan had stepped away from his role as Blades manager in September after Cusack’s family made an official complaint about his alleged behaviour towards their daughter.

Cusack, who was the club’s longest serving player and their first to reach 100 appearances, died at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Morgan was cleared to return to work and took charge of three games in January before he was informed of the decision to terminate his contract on Friday.

Cusack’s family provided the FA with new witnesses in a meeting described as positive last week.

They were not told in advance that Morgan would be sacked on Friday.

Cusack’s heartbroken father recently claimed his daughter would still be alive if Morgan had not been appointed manager, with The Athletic reporting that the Cusack family’s official complaint to the club after her death alleges that the player had left her former club Leicester – then managed by Morgan – in 2019 as she believed the manager had ‘taken a dislike to her’.

She is said to have feared that his subsequent appointment at United in February 2023 would mean ‘history would repeat itself’.

Cusack, who was the club’s longest serving player, died at her home on September 20, 2023

As well as previously coaching Cusack at Leicester, Morgan is alleged to have called Cusack a ‘psycho’ on the sidelines whilst he was managing Burnley, which she believed was further evidence of his dislike of her.

Her family say when Morgan was appointed as Sheffield United’s manager, he dropped her from the starting line-up and allegedly told her she was overweight.

They also claim he told other players about their previous clashes, giving the impression she was difficult to manage.

Via legal representation, Morgan denied ever calling Cusack overweight and the allegation he labelled her ‘psycho’ was found to be false during the initial investigation, representatives for Morgan claimed.