Update drops on big EFL Championship change - it’s been dubbed 'ridiculous' | OneFootball

The EFL are in talks to expand the Championship play-offs to include an extra two teams

The expansion of the EFL play-offs from four to six teams has gained more traction, as the idea of adding an eliminator round to the Championship play-offs has received "widespread backing" from club executives.

This is according to a report from Sky Sports, which confirmed that the decision to include the teams that finished seventh and eighth in the Championship in the play-offs is being considered.

An 'eliminator round' would therefore take place between the sides who finished between fifth and eighth, with the third and fourth-placed sides receiving a bye to the semi-finals, similarly to how the play-offs work in the National League.

However, many fans consider the play-offs to be one of the most exciting times of the year in its current format, and are lambasting this update, branding the talks as "ridiculous."

EFL confirm talks to expand the Championship play-offs

The Athletic reported two weeks ago that the EFL were considering a plan to expand the current play-offs from four to six teams, which would include the sides who finished seventh and eighth in the post-season action.

Today, Sky Sports has confirmed that these talks are indeed taking place and has revealed that the notion has received "widespread backing" from club executives.

Expanding the play-offs would see the sides who finished third and fourth receiving a straight bye through to the semi-finals, whilst fifth would play eighth and sixth would play seventh in a one-off eliminator for the chance to join them.

The idea was put forward by Preston North End's chief executive, Peter Risdale, with the idea that they would reduce the amount of meaningless games at the end of seasons, as there'd be more to fight for in terms of getting promoted, whilst in turn adding two more "high-profile" games to the calendar.

Play-off expansion talks receive generally negative feedback from fans

The EFL play-offs produce some of the most entertaining, nail-biting affairs in the entire footballing calendar, and therefore, most fans don't see the need to reinvent the wheel.

In response to the Sky Sports announcement on X, fans gathered to show their frustrations at these talks.

"Ridiculous," wrote one user. "Why change the best thing about the Championship?"

Other users took to the replies to outline the sheer frustration that it would cause for a team to finish third only to be cost a chance of promotion by a side who finished a whole five places behind them.

In last season's case, Sheffield United's 22-point gap to Bristol City was already the largest between a third and a sixth-placed side in Championship history, and that gap would have been extended to 24 points if eighth-placed Millwall were included.

Finally, and arguably most importantly, the point was being made about the current gap in quality between the Championship and the Premier League. Recently, teams that have come up with 90+ point tallies have succumbed to immediate relegation without putting up much of a fight.

Expanding the opportunity of promotion to the eighth-best team across 46 games, whilst allowing more opportunity to make that step up, would likely serve to strengthen the established Premier League sides, as there's surely little to no chance of an eighth-placed Championship side making an immediate impact in the top flight?