Sheffield United Hires Morgan Despite Reputation Warnings
In a surprising turn of events, Sheffield United has appointed Jonathan Morgan as their manager, despite being warned about his reputation within women’s football. The club’s head of football administration, Carl Shieber, was made aware of concerns during the recruitment process, but Morgan was still offered the job in February last year. This information has come to light following the Football Association’s inquiry into Morgan’s alleged behavior towards player Maddy Cusack.
Morgan, who was previously investigated by the FA after a complaint from Cusack’s parents about his alleged behavior towards their daughter before her tragic suicide, has always denied any wrongdoing. An external inquiry commissioned by the club cleared him of any bullying or inappropriate behavior. However, new evidence shows that Morgan was the subject of two previous complaints at Leicester City, one of his former clubs. These complaints related to his alleged behavior towards certain players, but no findings were made against him.
Despite the warnings about Morgan’s reputation, Sheffield United insists that they are satisfied with their recruitment process. However, it has been revealed that Zoe Johnson, the club’s former head of women’s football, raised concerns about Morgan’s poor reputation within the sport. Johnson had previously worked with Morgan during a short spell coaching at Leicester and expressed misgivings about whether he was the right fit for the club.
While Johnson acknowledged that Morgan had impressive credentials and had won promotion to the Women’s Super League with Leicester, she still had reservations about his reputation. She left Sheffield United shortly after raising these concerns and became the managing director of women’s and girls’ football at Brighton & Hove Albion. Unfortunately, she was not involved in the decision to appoint Morgan.
It has also been revealed that Morgan had previously been in a secret three-year relationship with one of his players at Leicester. The girl, who was supported by her family, accused him of taking advantage of her immaturity, while Morgan claimed she was of legal age. This revelation led to Morgan’s sacking from Bramall Lane and being dropped by his agent.
Morgan claims that he has been the victim of a “witch hunt” since the story broke about Cusack’s parents’ complaint. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to the previous complaints at Leicester and argues that there has never been any real evidence to support these claims.
Several witnesses, including former teammates of Cusack, have stated that they were aware of Morgan’s poor reputation before he was appointed as United’s manager. They question whether the club thoroughly looked into his background before making the decision to hire him.
Sheffield United has defended their recruitment process, stating that it was thorough and included references from previous clubs. They also stated that the independent Safecall investigation examined the process and shared the documentation with the FA’s integrity team.
The Cusack family, however, is dismayed that they were not allowed to see Safecall’s report and instead received a letter from the club’s CEO dismissing their complaint. The family has raised concerns about why the club disregarded Johnson’s warnings about Morgan’s reputation, particularly in regard to safeguarding implications.
As an inquest into Cusack’s death has been opened and there are no suspicious circumstances, the focus now turns to ensuring that such incidents do not occur again in the future. The case has highlighted the importance of thoroughly vetting individuals before appointing them to positions of power and influence within sports organizations. It is crucial for clubs to prioritize the well-being and safety of their players and staff above all else.
While Sheffield United stands by their decision to hire Morgan, this incident serves as a reminder to all sports organizations that reputations and behavior should be thoroughly investigated before making such appointments. The consequences of overlooking warning signs can be devastating, as seen in this tragic case. Moving forward, it is essential for clubs to prioritize the welfare of their players and take appropriate action to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all.