English Football League plotting big change to EFL Championship play-offs system | OneFootball

A proposal to change the current play-off format has been made by Preston North End CEO Peter Ridsdale

The EFL are proposing a change to the play-off system in the Championship that will give seventh and eighth a shot at promotion to the Premier League.

According to The Athletic, a proposal has been made that will see an eliminator round introduced into the current format, which would increase the number of participants from four to six.

Sunderland were the play-off winners last season after Régis Le Bris’ side finished fourth in the table, earning a semi-final win over Coventry City before beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley Stadium, with the Blades having cruised past Bristol City to make the final.

But under the new potential system, Blackburn Rovers and Millwall also could’ve had a chance at the third promotion spot last year after they finished just outside the top six.

New play-off system proposed for the Championship by the EFL

It has been claimed that there is broad support within the Championship for the expansion of the current play-off system.

It’s understood that the new format would be similar to the one currently in place in the National League, with eighth playing fifth and seventh facing sixth in an eliminator round.

The winners will then go on to compete against the sides that finished third and fourth in the table in a traditional play-off system.

It’s believed that Peter Ridsdale is behind the idea, with the Preston North End CEO mentioning it during a meeting last week.

The EFL are also reportedly considering this expansion for League One and League Two, but the Championship is being prioritised at this stage.

Any change will require the approval of the FA Board, with the Premier League believed to be against the idea.

The earliest a change can take place is next season, with several board members in the Championship understood to be for the proposal, but the Premier League will need to be persuaded as well.

Play-off format change could work

The difference in quality between the teams that finish fifth and eighth is typically quite marginal, with only one or two points separating those positions most years. There was, however, 24 points separating third-placed Sheffield United and eighth-placed Millwall last season, so the overall disparity could be great and will surely be a reference point among those not on board with the proposed new system.

It’s no surprise that the Premier League are against the idea, but it could be a change that has a very small impact on the top flight but a huge impact on the Championship.

If clubs in the second tier are behind the idea, then that should be enough to convince the Premier League to go ahead with the proposal.

With the same three clubs going up and straight back down in the last few years, a shake up to the promotion system might be what’s needed as one minor solution to help that problem.