Thai national football coach resigns over vain World Cup qualifying bid

BANGKOK, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's national football team coach Chanvit Phalajivin announced his resignation on Wednesday to take responsibility for failing to get the team through the first qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup.

Chanvit said he had already submitted his resignation to the Football Association of Thailand. He made the decision after a series of defeats left Thailand last in the group including the last 1-2 defeat by Oman on Sunday, according to a report by Bangkok Post news website.

"I want to take responsibility," Chanvit was quoted as saying, "The fans do not believe in me."

Thailand only managed to draw 1:1 home to Bahrain in the Group 2 to earn its single point in the third-round home-away qualifier matches in the group. But it lost the other match away to Bahrain and lost both at home and away to both Japan and Oman. The series of defeats have left Thailand winless and hopeless to reach the World Cup.

Chanvit, who coached the Thai team since 2005, did not say what his next move might be.

Last year he was offered a coaching contract in the Vietnam professional league, but decided to remain with the Thai team after heavy pressure from the military junta then ruled the country, the report said.