Wilson Testifies She Tried to Raise Alarm Over Morgan
Former Sheffield United goalkeeper Nina Wilson told Chesterfield coroner's court that she had "tried to escalate concerns" about manager Jonathan Morgan before teammate Maddy Cusack's death in September 2023, but felt her warnings went unheeded.
"I did not feel I was listened to," Wilson said, adding that neither she nor Cusack knew who the club's safeguarding officer was.
Wilson, who ended her own playing career at 25 because of her experiences, told the inquest she noticed a "very stark change" in Cusack's demeanour from February 2023, when Morgan was appointed. She described Cusack as "an exceptionally confident person, so funny, always bouncing around the changing room, checking in on other people."
Morgan Denies Bullying Allegations
Jonathan Morgan, the former manager of Leicester City, Burnley and Sheffield United, will give evidence on Monday. In Friday's proceedings, Morgan—through questions to former players—sought to challenge the narrative.
When Morgan asked former player Naomi Hartley if she had witnessed bullying towards Cusack, Hartley replied: "No, I just think a lot of people were intimidated by you."
Another ex-player and Morgan's former assistant, Luke Turner, also testified that he never saw Morgan bully Cusack or other players personally.
Under-Resourced Environment at Sheffield United
The court heard stark evidence about the club's transition from part-time to full-time status in summer 2023, which left staff stretched. Team doctor Dr Subhashis Basu described a chaotic environment.
"It was an extremely challenging environment. We were routinely moving training facilities, struggling to find venues," Basu said, revealing he had to book pitches, collect lunches from Tesco, and even store medication at his home due to a lack of private medical rooms for the women's squad.
Wilson made several recommendations to the court, including clearer whistleblowing routes and mandatory mental health education for coaching qualifications. She believes Cusack's death was "definitely preventable."
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988. International helplines can be found at befrienders. org.
Key Takeaways
- Nina Wilson testified she raised concerns about Jonathan Morgan but felt ignored, and that Cusack's character changed after his arrival.
- Morgan denies bullying and points to other witnesses who say they saw no direct mistreatment.
- The inquest revealed severe resource shortages in Sheffield United's women's setup, painting a picture of a club struggling to support its players.
- Wilson called for systemic reforms, including mandatory mental health training for coaches and clearer safeguarding pathways.
Quick Facts
Event: Inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack
Date of death: 20 September 2023
Key witness: Nina Wilson, former Sheffield United goalkeeper
Manager involved: Jonathan Morgan, due to give evidence Monday
Venue: Chesterfield Coroner's Court