New Championship Playoff Format Approved Despite Premier League Concerns

The English Football League (EFL) has announced a significant change to the Championship playoffs, starting next season, six teams will compete for promotion to the Premier League, up from the current four.

‎The decision was officially approved by EFL clubs during an extraordinary general meeting held at the Belfry on Thursday, following a recommendation from the EFL board.

‎New Playoff Format

‎Under the revamped system, an additional eliminator round will be introduced. In this round, the fifth-placed team will host the eighth-placed team, while the sixth-placed team faces the seventh at the higher-ranked club’s stadium.

‎These one-off fixtures will determine which teams advance to the two-leg playoff semi-finals, where they will meet the third and fourth-placed clubs.

‎This format mirrors the structure currently used in the National League, where six-team playoffs have been in place for the past eight seasons.

‎Data from that league suggests that lower-ranked teams face an uphill battle to achieve promotion, with only Grimsby managing to reach the higher tier in 2022 from outside the top four playoff spots.

‎EFL’s Perspective and Commercial Impact

‎EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch emphasized that the expansion is designed to make the Championship even more competitive.

‎“We are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion,” Birch said.

‎The domestic rights holder, Sky Sports, has also approved the change.

‎While the current five-year TV deal worth £935 million will not see an increase in fees for the final three years of the contract, the league hopes that the expanded format will make future rights packages more valuable.

‎Potential Expansion to Lower Leagues

‎If successful, the six-team playoff structure may also be introduced in League One and League Two, offering more clubs the chance to fight for promotion and generating additional marquee fixtures for broadcasters.

‎Premier League Concerns

‎Not all parties are in favor of the change. The Premier League has expressed concerns that allowing the eighth-placed Championship team a route to promotion could result in a drop in the standard of football in the top flight.

‎However, the Football Association board overruled these objections and approved the EFL’s proposal last year.

‎Historical Context

‎The current four-team playoff system has been in place in the Championship since the 1988-89 season.

‎Historically, there has been a noticeable gap in quality between the top three sides and the rest of the division. For example, last season, eighth-placed Derby were 12 points behind third-placed Ipswich, while Millwall, who finished eighth the previous season, trailed Sheffield United by 24 points.

‎The expanded playoff format is expected to increase excitement and maintain competitiveness throughout the season, even for teams finishing outside the traditional top four.