Former AFL Melbourne captain and one-time coaching aspirant Garry Lyon has counted himself out of the race to replace Neale Daniher as coach of his former club.

Lyon told News Limited he had been away from cutting edge football tactics for too long to replace Daniher, who resigned this week and will coach the Demons for the last time on Friday night.

"I think I've been out of footy too long to contemplate it," Lyon said.

"The longer you're out if it, the harder it is to get back in. I don't think I've got enough experience or qualifications.

"It wouldn't be fair to the group if you were having to learn very much on the job.

"I'm not a candidate at all. I've never said I was in and Melbourne have never said they were going to talk to me."

Lyon coached Australia's international rules team in 2003-04.

He retired as a player in 1999 - Daniher's second season as coach.

The Demons on Thursday announced Mark Riley, the club's defensive coach and a close friend of Daniher, as caretaker coach until the end of the season.

John Allen, who worked for the Western Bulldogs to get former Sydney coach Rodney Eade to the club, will head Melbourne's search for a new coach, Melbourne club chairman Michael Gardner said.

Mr Gardner said he would consider an untried AFL coach for the role.

"We will seek the very best person for the job and we will have that person working for Melbourne Football Club, whatever that takes," he told News Limited.

"We'll consider any coach who'll be interested in coaching the Melbourne Football Club. I'll talk to (former Australian cricket coach) John Buchanan if he wants to talk."

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