EFL in talks to increase Championship play-offs to six teams | OneFootball

The proposal has received wide initial support from clubs

Preliminary discussions have taken place over a plan to extend the number of teams in the Championship play-offs to six by adding an eliminator round.

The winners of those matches would progress to two-legged semi-finals against the sides which finished third and fourth, with promotion to the Premier League decided in a final at Wembley.

It is understood the proposal, which is similar to the format used in the National League, has received wide initial support from clubs in the second tier, although conversations remain at an early stage.

Any concrete plan would require a vote of English Football League (EFL) clubs and also have to be presented to the Football Association.

The possible revamp would give more clubs a chance of promotion and likely reduce the number of dead-rubber matches in the closing weeks of the regular season.

The idea is not a new one and was first floated more than 20 years ago.

It is understood the EFL would also like to add an eliminator round to the play-offs in League One and League Two but is initially focused on the Championship.

End-of-season play-offs were introduced to the EFL in 1987 and have been contested in their current format - between the four teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places - since 1989.