McKinna took to Twitter to confirm he had decided to leave the club and insisted he was leaving on good terms with the owners.

But Chengdu have been wracked by off-field controversy during McKinna's reign and the boardroom strife was reflected in results.

After 20 games this season, Chengdu have won only twice, and scored just 13 goals while conceding 33. They have currently gone 13 games without a win and are last in the Chinese Super League with just 14 points, 32 points off the lead.

McKinna was football director with the Mariners - after Graham Arnold assumed the Central Coast coaching role last season - when he joined the Blades to help the club's crisis-struck management.

However he quickly took on the coach's role full-time and brought out Adam Kwasnik and John Hutchinson on loan to join former Sydney FC and Fury striker Brendon Santalab and ex-Adelaide United defender Jonas Salley in the team.

However he was unable to turn the club's fortunes around and after talking to the club over the weekend, he decided to end his Chinese adventure and return to Australia.

"Just in my office for the last time," he wrote on Twitter. "The time was right for me to step down as coach. We have had had a hard season with a lot of issues.

"And I just felt that it was time to leave and spoke with the club and we both agreed the decision was right for myself and the club

"You sometimes know these things and I could feel it was time. I have stepped down as coach but my relationship with the club is very good."

He added: "I have enjoyed the experience in China although not always easy.

"Still not sure what is next...Coaching, management, who knows whats round the corner for the big fella?

"I am not sure yet. I will sort things out here and then see whats available but the Coast is my home so I will be back."

Kwasnik will stay with Chengdu until his loan terminates at the end of this month, while Hutchinson will be on loan until the end of October.

Hutchinson scored Chengdu's goal from the spot in the first minute during McKinna's final game in charge with the Blades, a 1-1 draw with Tiajin Teda on Saturday.

Contracted player Santalab is expected to remain at the Blades along with Salley.