BEIJING - The Chinese Football Association officially announced the departure of China national coach Zhu Guanghu on Tuesday and are now in the process of finding his replacement ahead of their opening match of the FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifiers in October.

"Zhu handed in his resignation and we accepted it," said national team manager Wei Shaohui.

Wei added that Zhu's dismissal was not unexpected as the former Shenzhen Jianlibao coach had failed to deliver on his promise of leading China to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in July.

The Chinese didn't even make it past the opening round for the first time in 27 years after a 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in their final match of the group stage, prompting the CFA's coaching committee to make their decision following a meeting on Monday that was attended by Zhu.

The 57-year-old Shanghai native, who handed in his notice to the CFA in early August, took charge of the national side in early 2005 after leading Shenzhen to the 2004 China Super League title.

Wei added that the search for a new national coach is still ongoing with a crucial home-and-away qualifier against Myanmar only two months away.

Reports have indicated that the CFA had planned to appoint Ratomir Dujkovic, who is currently China's U-23 coach, to also oversee their senior side but Wei said that a deal has not yet been reached with the Serbian.