The EFL is proposing changes to the Championship play-offs that would see them in a different format, increasing the number of teams participating and adding new rounds.
EFL clubs are expected to vote on the changes in March (Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Championship play-offs could be expanded to six teams after the FA approves a vote to be held next month. EFL clubs will have a say on whether to change their traditional format at an extraordinary general meeting on March 5.
A proposal from the EFL, floated in September, was to add an eliminator round similar to the one seen in the National League play-offs. This will allow teams that finish seventh and eighth in the championship to qualify for the playoffs, while teams that finish third and fourth will be given an advantage.
The Guardian reported that the FA recently approved the EFL’s request for this change, despite opposition from the Premier League. Top league leaders are concerned that standards could drop if, for example, a team that finishes eighth is promoted along with the first and second-placed teams.
All it takes to confirm this change is a majority of the 24 clubs in the Championship and a majority overall of the 72 clubs in the EFL, ie 13 and 37 yes votes respectively. The new format is scheduled to be introduced next season.
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The EFL is reportedly confident the changes will be approved. Officials have been in discussions with clubs since the idea was first proposed at a Championship Division meeting in September.
The proposed format would be slightly different from the National League, with fifth place hosting eighth place and sixth place hosting seventh place with a one-off tie. The two winners of the Eliminator round will face the second and third place respectively in a two-legged semi-final.
This differs from the National League, where all playoff games have been single-leg ties since the 2017-18 season. The final will then be held at Wembley to decide which team will be promoted to the Premier League.
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The new format is scheduled to be implemented from the 2026-27 season (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The vote comes amid potential new changes to the EFL. National League clubs are campaigning to increase the number of places they can be promoted to League Two. Currently, only two teams will be promoted in lieu of an equal reduction (one automatically and one via the playoffs), but the National League’s 3UP campaign has received a lot of attention this season.
Last week, an EFL spokesperson said: “Early today, the EFL Board reviewed recent communications received from the National League regarding the 3UP campaign. After discussion, the Board agreed that the most appropriate way to move forward on the matter was to further discuss coordination requirements with clubs at the March all-club meeting.”
“The League maintains that this is not a single issue and requires close consideration and constructive dialogue across the pyramid, with other relevant issues and regulations considered in detail.”
Approving this change would require a majority equal to the Championship Playoff vote.
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