AS a lifelong Leeds United supporter, Jimmy Lowes is no stranger to instability.

The Whites have lurched from one calamity to another in recent times and the uncertainty shows no sign of ending under controversial Italian owner Massimo Cellino.

In a week where Leeds ruthlessly unseated head coach Neil Redfearn, a moment of introspection saw Lowes consider his own situation.

The Bulls boss said: “It’s just chaos at Leeds and every day in the press there is a different story about Cellino.

“We need stability there, but it looks like this guy is so unstable that he’s never going to provide it.

“It’s sad because we’ve been under the cosh for many, many years.

“The good times were there because we had stability within Elland Road from the chairmen and the people who run the club.

“But Cellino is up and down like a volcano and yes, it does make me appreciate what I’ve got here.

“I appreciate what I’ve got here anyway and while our owner (Marc Green) is a bit of a livewire, he’s certainly quite stable in how he goes about his business.”

Not that Lowes believes all is rosy in the rugby league garden.

The departure of Wakefield counterpart James Webster earlier this week rankled with the Bulls boss.

Lowes fears more drastic decisions could be made by clubs following the scrapping of Super League licences and return to promotion and relegation.

He added: “It’s pretty sad because we brought in the franchise system for a couple of reasons.

“One was to develop young English players and not panic when you’re in a position at the bottom of the league.

“You don’t need to panic buy and bring in a second-rate Australian or a retiring New Zealander.

“The franchise system was about sticking with the kids and giving them game-time, which helps the top end of the game; the England Knights and the senior side.

“But the franchise system was also about helping young coaches who come into the game.

“Everyone says the best way to learn is by your mistakes and when it’s tough as well.”

Webster went by mutual consent after a disastrous run of 11 straight defeats and Lowes said: “It was his first job as a head coach and he’s run into a tough situation there.

“If the licensing system was still in place, there would be reassurances that he’s not under pressure because there is no relegation.

“That would have helped him massively to learn and it’s the same for a lot of young coaches.

“You’ve got to learn on the job, when things are going well and when they’re going bad.

“James Webster has been under a lot of pressure and I reckon that reassurance that there wasn’t going to be any relegation would have helped him come through and be a better coach in the long run.

“But panic and pressure means you’re not allowed to develop and can lead to people losing their jobs.”

Lowes was unseated as Warrington head coach in 2009 when, after a disappointing start to the season, he was replaced by Tony Smith.

He said: “We’re all in pressured jobs and we’ve all got to get results. Sport is in the public eye but the pressure is the same.

“There are ways to manage that and I reckon having a franchise rather than promotion and relegation would have helped James massively.

“The pressure of relegation is a big thing.”

ROSS HEPPENSTALL