Reporting note: this article draws on The Guardian; PGLive provides the summary and editorial framing.
Inquest details Maddy Cusack’s struggle with dual-role demands
The inquest into the death of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack has heard testimony regarding the significant pressures she faced while balancing her professional football career with a role in the club’s marketing department. Dr. Delroy Hall, who served as the club’s chaplain until November 2023, testified that Cusack reached out to him multiple times in August 2023, specifically requesting that her communications remain confidential from the club.
Dr. Hall stated that he advised Cusack that her schedule—which occupied her seven days a week—was “not sustainable.” While he noted that she did not appear to be at immediate risk of self-harm, he acknowledged the strain caused by her dual-contract obligations and the personal challenge of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Both Sheffield United chief executive Stephen Bettis and head of football administration Carl Shieber testified that they were not made aware of the difficulties Cusack was experiencing regarding her workload.
Club structure and financial sustainability
The inquest also examined the transition of the women’s team to full-time status. Senior club figures explained that the move was delayed by the need to secure funding, which was contingent upon the men’s team achieving promotion to the Premier League. Stephen Bettis defended the club’s investment in the women’s side, noting that the club currently loses over £2m annually on the program. He characterized the current financial model of women’s football as “not sustainable” without increased broadcast revenues, estimating that true sustainability remains several years away.
Recruitment and internal oversight
Evidence was also heard regarding the appointment of Jonathan Morgan as women’s team manager in February 2023. Carl Shieber admitted that he had been warned by the former head of women’s football, Zoe Johnson, that Morgan had behaved unprofessionally on the sidelines during a previous match. Despite this, Shieber proceeded with the appointment, stating he found Morgan to be “very transparent” during the formal interview process.
The inquest is scheduled to continue on Thursday as the court examines further evidence regarding the internal environment at Sheffield United during the 2022-23 season.
