EFL clubs approve Championship play-off expansion to six teams | OneFootball

English Football League (EFL) clubs have voted to expand the Championship promotion play-off to six teams from next season, according to Sky Sports News.

The change was reportedly ratified at a remarkable general meeting held at the Belfry. Increasing the number of play-off participants from four to six teams introduces an extra knockout stage.

It was designed to widen the race for promotion to the Premier League by giving an additional two teams the chance to tussle for a spot in the top flight.

Under the new format, there will be an additional “elimination round” in the Championship play-offs, using a similar set-up to that of the National League.

Clubs that finish between fifth and eighth will battle through the eliminator round. The fifth-placed team will take on the eighth-placed team, while sixth will face seventh.

These games will be played at the home ground of the higher-ranked team in a one-off clash to determine which club will advance to the two-leg play-off semi-final.

The winners will then face the teams that finished third and fourth, while the Championship play-off final is still expected to take place at Wembley Stadium.

According to EFL chief executive Trevor Birch, the groundbreaking change is designed to increase competition across the division while giving more clubs a realistic shot at promotion.

The EFL’s broadcast partner, Sky Sports, has endorsed the change. 

However, they have shut down any talks of increasing their rights fee for the final three seasons of their contract despite the addition of two extra marquee fixtures.

Sky Sports wants to see out their current £935 million deal, although they’re aware that future TV rights could be far more valuable.

The Premier League has expressed concerns that promoting a team that finished eighth in the Championship could affect the quality of the top flight. 

But those concerns have fallen on deaf ears. The Championship has been using a four-team play-off format since the 1988/89 season.

If it’s successfully implemented in the Championship, it’s only a matter of time before it’s eventually introduced to the lower divisions, including League One and League Two.