KEVIN Sinfield considered his own position as director of rugby at crisis club Leeds but says he remains determined to turn around their fortunes.

Sinfield, who returned to the Rhinos last July following the departure of long-serving coach Brian McDermott, sacked Australian Dave Furner as head coach 14 matches into a three-year contract.

But Leeds then lost to Bulls in the Challenge Cup and the club remain in a perilous position in the Betfred Super League after going down 30-8 at home to Castleford last night.

In an emotional interview with Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney on the eve of Thursday's match, Sinfield claimed the problems at Headingley are "deep-rooted" and "the place has been rotten".

The former England skipper, who was the most successful captain in Leeds' history, having led them to seven Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges until his departure in 2015, admits the team are in a relegation battle.

"The club has had some difficult times over the last two years," Sinfield said. "This isn't a two-week old problem, for three of the last four seasons we've been in the bottom four, so there's a problem here.

"There's never going to be a quick fix, we need time. This club needs stability. It's important this club is built on firm foundations and it hasn't been."

Sinfield says the decision to sack Furner was based on a wish to change "path" and believe interim boss Richard Agar is the man to help them back on the right track.

"I do feel in my gut we're on a much better track," he said. "But the problems have been deep-rooted, the place has been rotten, it's been left to erode.

"You come back and try to help that. Yes, I considered my own position at the club but I'm still here.

"At any stage, if I feel I can't help this club move forward or if I'm asked to move, I will go without any argument whatsoever.

"I came back to help, not for any big pay cheque. I could have been sat at home like a lot of ex-players and stayed out of it, but I love the club and at the heart of all decisions I make, the club will come first, as it was with the Dave (Furner) situation."

Former Wigan head Shaun Wane, now working part-time in Scottish rugby union, has been linked with Leeds but Sinfield says Agar will remain in charge for the foreseeable future.

"I've been inundated with approaches but at this stage we're 100 per cent behind Richard," he said. "Everybody who has made contact has been told the same thing."