The Guardian (USA)

Maddy Cusack’s family ‘welcome’ Morgan’s exit from Sheffield United

- PA Media

Maddy Cusack’s family have said they “welcome” the sacking of the Sheffield United Women’s head coach, Jonathan Morgan.

The Blades announced on Friday that Morgan’s contract had been terminated “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.”

His dismissal is not related to the Football Associatio­n investigat­ion into the circumstan­ces surroundin­g the death of former Sheffield United player Cusack, who died aged 27 in September last year. A week after her death, her family are understood to have sent a written complaint to United outlining a range of issues she had been facing, which they say all stemmed from her relationsh­ip with Morgan.

After Morgan’s departure from Bramall Lane, the Maggie Cusack Foundation said in a short statement posted on X: “On Friday afternoon, we learnt on social media of the departure of Jonathan Morgan. We as a family welcome this developmen­t. 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.”

Morgan’s now former representa­tives, Tongue Tied Management, said they had severed ties with him in a statement on Friday. It read: “In the last 24 hours we have learnt new informatio­n regarding Jonathan Morgan and a relationsh­ip with a player under his charge. 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 pre

serving the integrity of our agency.”

Morgan was in charge of Leicester’s women’s first team from 2014-2021 before moving to Burnley and was appointed by Sheffield United in February

2023. He is a member of the League Managers’ Associatio­n, which has also been approached for comment. The FA investigat­ion into the circumstan­ces surroundin­g Cusack’s death remains ongoing, it is understood.

United commission­ed a third-party investigat­ion after the Cusack family’s complaint, which concluded last year with no evidence found of any wrongdoing by anyone connected to the club. The FA announced on 8 January it was assessing informatio­n surroundin­g the circumstan­ces of Cusack’s death, but stressed at that time it had not opened a formal investigat­ion. It is understood that changed last week, when the FA told the family at a meeting on 24 January that it was formally investigat­ing.

Morgan stepped away from his post in October after the independen­t investigat­ion commission­ed by the club started but returned to work at United in the final week of last year. The FA and Profession­al Footballer­s’ Associatio­n have been approached for comment.

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