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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 โ€˜the footy side of thingsโ€™.

Dublin-born Stynes is said to be feeling the strain of the high-pressure job at the crisis-hit Demons recently. Though โ€˜very illโ€™, he sacked coach Dean Bailey in the wake of the clubโ€™s demolition by Geelong on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne on Monday, Bailey admitted to โ€˜tankingโ€™ 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-mateโ€™s request to take an active role in the club but that he was now ready to step up.

โ€œNo, heโ€™s not good,โ€ Lyon said of his friendโ€™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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