After a spell coaching Chengdu Blades in the Chinese Super League earlier this year, McKinna recently returned to the Mariners to work part-time in marketing and football operations.

But McKinna still wanted to coach on a full-time basis again.

And with a sense of unfinished business in Chinese football, McKinna has opted to take up Chongqing’s offer and guide the men from the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center in 2012.

“I really enjoyed my experience living in China and Chongqing Lifan have given me a fantastic opportunity to finish what I started with Chengdu,” McKinna said.

“I have been enjoying my new role with the Mariners but Chongqing put together an appealing proposal that first and foremost gave me the opportunity to coach again.”

McKinna will retain his links to the Mariners though and has been recruited as a consultant for the club’s 2012 Asian Champions League campaign.

In liaison with Central Coast Mariners coaching and support staff, McKinna will provide first hand inside information on the Mariners’ ACL opponents.

The Mariners and McKinna have also agreed that the club will have first right of his services when he returns from his second stint in Chinese football.

McKinna said he would be keeping a close eye on the Mariners Hyundai A-League fortunes as the season progressed.

“I wish the lads, Graham Arnold and the club well – they are doing fantastic at the moment,” he said.

“I hope the fans continue to get behind the team and you can be sure I will be following the matches and news as much as I can from China.”

China’s League One is the second division of professional football in China. The top two teams from League One are automatically promoted to the Chinese Super League.