Sheffield United have denied deliberately delaying the inquest into the death of their former women’s team captain Maddy Cusack.
Cusack died suddenly aged 27 in September 2023, with police saying the circumstances were not considered suspicious.
Afterwards, her family claimed that pressure had been put on Cusack by “processes and conduct” at Sheffield United, including allegations over the behaviour of former manager Jonathan Morgan.
Her inquest was originally scheduled for April last year, before being rearranged for this month.
But on Monday at Chesterfield Coroners Court, the process was pushed back until 29 June.
Lawyers representing the Cusack family said that “it is extremely disappointing” that Sheffield United provided 699 pages of documents just before Christmas, having originally been given a late November deadline.
The new documents include a statement from Cheryl Anderson, the club’s head of safeguarding.
Dean Armstrong KC, representing the Cusacks, told the court: “The family found themselves, already at the most difficult time in their lives, having to try and get to grips with 700 pages of material a week before Christmas for a hearing the first day after the Christmas break.
“We deem that unacceptable. It has had an impact on them.”
Joseph O’Brien KC, on behalf of Sheffield United, replied: “The complaints are wholly misplaced. We reject entirely any suggestion of non-compliance.
“We have made strenuous efforts to make sure information was sent to relevant parties. The suggestion we have in some way contributed to the adjournment by non-compliance is wholly without merit.”
The coroner added that court procedures and the need to make redactions to documents had contributed to the delay.
