FORMER Melbourne captain Garry Lyon will not coach is beleaguered club but says he is open to helping the Demons in a temporary position as football director or a similar role.

Lyon said he would help his old club mainly as a favour to close friend, president Jim Stynes who is battling cancer.

But he said whatever role he played he would not extend it into next year as his media commitments were his main priority. Lyon also denied he had orchestrated Bailey's dismissal.

"If [Jim] wants me to help the footy club then I'm going to help in the manner that I can. I am not going to do a long-term role because at the start of next footy season I want to go back to what I'm doing now without being conflicted," he said on Channel Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.

"If they want me to help over the next couple of months in football and, if that helps lighten the load on Jim, then I'm going to do it."

Lyon admitted to feeling a sense of guilt at seeing his close friend have to deal with the stressful task of sacking a coach and finding a replacement.

"When I saw Jimmy dealing with that and the way he did, I didn't think that was right. In lots of ways, my own feelings about not wanting to be involved in the footy club, I felt guilty when I saw him doing that," he said.

"I don't think it's right that Jim has to deal with it at this time in his life. I don't think it's right for him and I worry for him.
 
"I don't think Jim, in the fight of his life right now should be dealing with this. I think it is far too much for him."

Lyon was firm in his position that he would not coach.

"I could not be any clearer over the past six to eight months that I am not going to coach. I said it I reckon 50 times and I am slightly bemused by people continuing down that path," Lyon said .

Lyon said he never felt forced to undertake a role with his former club despite a groundswell of media speculation about his influence.

"You don’t have to do anything in life. For me to choose not to be involved in the Melbourne footy club is my decision," he said.

"No one will tell me otherwise and I am not moral bound at all."

Melbourne assistant coach Todd Viney, who was also a teammate of Lyon and Stynes, will coach the Demons for the rest of 2011.

Luke Holmesby covers Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby.