Sheffield United view given as EFL eye major play-offs change - "It doesn’t need fixing" | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United Fan Pundit remains convinced the current format works perfectly

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Strong opposition has been raised to the EFL's radical propsal to extend the Championship play-offs from four to six teams.

The proposal, presented to Championship clubs by Preston North End CEO Peter Ridsdale, has received wide initial support from executives and would see teams finishing seventh and eight enter the play-offs through eliminator matches.

Under the 'new' format, fifth would play eighth and sixth would meet seventh in one-off ties at the higher-ranked team's ground, with the winners progressing to face third and fourth in the traditional two-legged semi-finals.

EFL urged to keep the current play-off system for the Championship

Under the current system, last season saw a 24-point gap separating third-place Sheffield United from eighth-placed Millwall, who finished on 90 and 66 points respectively.

Speaking about the propsal, Jimmy a.k.a Blades Ramble, who's also FLW's Sheffield United Fan Pundit, remains convinced the current format works perfectly.

"I really enjoy the playoffs as they are - and that’s coming from a fan of a team that finished comfortably third and still missed out on promotion," Jimmy explained. As he pointed out, Sheffiled United finished third but lost to Sunderland in last season's play-off final at Wembley.

The Blades supporter praised the existing system, but was quick to express serious concerns about how the new proposal could ruin what makes the play-offs special.

"I do think the playoffs have been a really strong, innovative way to keep the season going beyond promotion and relegation certainties," Jimmy told FLW.

"So, I love it as a concept. I am concerned that if it continues to get watered down then it begins to lose its luster a little bit," he added.

Jimmy questioned whether teams finishing as low as eighth deserve promotion opportunities. "Is it really right that a team that finishes eight-place in the league gets promoted due to a three-game decent run, I'm not sure it is to be honest."

The proposal mirrors the National League format and aims to reduce meaningless end-of-season fixtures while adding two high-stakes matches to the calendar.

"Stretching" the Championship play-offs takes it "too far"

The EFL is also apparently considering similar changes to League One and League Two, though Championship clubs remain the primary focus for now.

Any format changes require approval from the FA Board, with past discussions facing resistance from Premier League clubs concerned about competition quality - and it's hard to argue with their point of view.

Before the past two seasons, the only other Premier League campaign where all three promoted clubs were relegated straight away was in 97/98.

In 23/24, Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United only managed 66 points between them, which set a record-low tally. However, 24/25 was even worse, with Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton getting a collective 59 points.

Jimmy concluded his verdict by adding, "I think, whilst you can make the argument for top six, stretching it to top eight just pushes it that little too far for me.

"If it’s not broken, it doesn’t need fixing."

Despite positive initial feedback from Championship clubs, the top-flight's previous opposition to similar changes could put this one to bed early.

Former Crystal Palace and Bristol City CEO Phil Alexander, now with the National League, has unsuccessfully advocated for this format since 2003.

Jimmy's perspective represents many traditional football fans who value sporting merit over expanded entertainment formats - and it all seems a bit Americanised.