MELBOURNE legend Garry Lyon has agreed to return to the Demons on a temporary basis.

Lyon will assist Melbourne's board for the rest of the season and will act as a liaison between the board and the football department.

He will begin immediately, with no set time frame settled on.

Lyon will work closely with the players and the staff and will be involved in the process for selecting Melbourne's next senior coach.

Earlier this week, he said he was open to helping the club as a favour to close friend, president Jim Stynes

"It is important to remember that since Jim came to the presidency, debt has been cleared, sponsorship is up, membership is up, there are outstanding new training facilities at AAMI Park and a new training base at Casey," Lyon said in a statement on melbournefc.com.au.

"The club has worked hard with positive results off the field but there is still plenty of work to be done and everyone at the club needs to acknowledge that. The most important part of a footy club, the football department needs a hand at the moment and that's where I will endeavour to help."

Lyon played 226 games for Melbourne between 1986 and 1999 and captained the club from 1991 to 1997.

He is now a prominent media figure with Channel Nine, Triple M radio and The Age newspaper.

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