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Stynes at a club press conference this week. Youtube screengrab

Irish Aussie Rules legend Stynes told to focus on cancer battle

Dublin-born Melbourne president is back in hospital as club remains in turmoil.

JIM STYNES YESTERDAY took a step back from duties as president of Melbourne Football club and was readmitted to hospital.

The cancer-stricken club president temporarily handed over the reins to old friend Garry Lyon, who will take care of ‘the footy side of things’.

Dublin-born Stynes is said to be feeling the strain of the high-pressure job at the crisis-hit Demons recently. Though ‘very ill’, he sacked coach Dean Bailey in the wake of the club’s demolition by Geelong on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne on Monday, Bailey admitted to ‘tanking’ during his tenure; this involves losing deliberately in a bid to secure higher draft picks.

The Herald Sun today report that Lyon had been wrestling for some time with his former team-mate’s request to take an active role in the club but that he was now ready to step up.

“No, he’s not good,” Lyon said of his friend’s health as he met the press. Doctors are expected to carry out more tests later today while a family holiday to Bali has been put on hold.

Watch this Aussie news report on the latest developments:

Read more in the Herald Sun>

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