Big changes to the EFL have been discussed at a meeting this week with a proposal being well received, as per The Athletic.
The report states that the league are looking at potentially expanding the Championship play-offs to include six teams by adding an eliminator round.
In this format, 5th would play 8th and 6th would face 7th in single matches hosted by the higher-ranked teams.
‘Unlike the National League’s play-offs, which are all one-off matches, the winners of these eliminators would then proceed to two-legged ties against the teams that finished third and fourth, with the winners meeting at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.’
🚨 We’re all National League now, aren’t we?!?
EFL in talks to extend Championship play-offs to six teams, adding an eliminator round. It would reduce dead rubbers, increase chances of golden ticket. Needs FA Board approval…& PL doesn’t like it! https://t.co/zDszbOGvW6
— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) September 11, 2025
The winners would advance to two-legged ties against the 3rd and 4th placed teams, with the final at Wembley determining promotion to the Premier League.
The idea, presented by Preston North End’s Peter Ridsdale, has strong support from Championship clubs for reducing meaningless end-of-season games and increasing promotion opportunities.
The EFL also considers similar expansions for League One and League Two play-offs.
However, the proposal requires FA approval, and past attempts faced Premier League objections over concerns about competition quality. No formal vote has occurred yet.
The current format for the EFL playoffs sees the four highest-ranked sides outside the automatic promotion places take part in a two-legged play-offs ahead of the final.
The English Football League (EFL) is considering a plan to add an eliminator round to the Championship play-offs, a move that would extend the number of teams in the play-offs to six.
Exclusive story from @mjshrimper here ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/LzWylnFZBY pic.twitter.com/wnYvQjc5C6
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 11, 2025
It would be subject to approval of the FA Board, but whenever brought up before, the Premier League objected because of concerns about diluting the quality of its competition.
The proposal has not yet been presented to the FA Board and there has been no formal vote at EFL level, either.
The Athletic state they have spoken to several Championship club bosses under the condition of anonymity and all of them backed it.
The need is for the EFL to also try and persuade the Premier League to drop their opposition towards such proposals, in the hope of getting it in place for the 2026/27 season.
While a change to the play-offs is being mooted, talks continue regarding the potential increase in the number of clubs who win promotion from the fifth-tier National League from two to three. Majority of fans have backed to see the number of teams relegated from League Two increase to three. The National League and its member clubs are also part of a campaign to get this change approved.
Here’s how fans reacted amid big changes to the EFL which have been discussed at the meeting with the proposal being well received…
@alexcmfc: They’re absolutely desperate for Derby’s point record to be broken. Just imagine some of the dross that could end up going up.
@Maz_Georgiou: Games well and truly gone
@OliverNFFC02: Just to include a certain team as in Birmingham city or Wrexham
@samwitherspoon_: Stop changing shit
@benoliver000: I will never understand the obsession in modern football to change things that aren’t broken? Would be an awful idea
@gavin_poulton: No, no, no, no, NO! You finish outside the top 6 you get what you deserve nothing!
@JOELH0LMES: Nah sorry but the potential for a team to finish 8th in the Championship and get promoted to the PL is mental
@jamesgdp1: playoffs one of the best things about the pyramid, leave them alone
@scottnixon001: Please do not touch what is not broken!!!
@Rollsie7: Oh just fuck off
@_MUFCJames: Why change something that works well?
@Bygecko1: Makes the champ competitive till the end with more teams playing for something. Also play offs would be a bigger spectacle. Downside is 8th place wins it but meritocracy & that. Prem has European positions up till 7/8th till the end so I hear it #dontbescaredofchange
@ProperBeau: Don’t change something that ain’t broke! The current system is fair as it can be… otherwise you end up with teams getting promoted who can be 20-30 points behind. It starts to make a bit of a mockery of the league, and doesn’t reward season performance
@QPRReport: Think this idea is inane! The idea of the Playoffs for that third spot promotion was a great idea and a fair compromise. But this is penalizes the most successful and is not fair – regardless of if attracts more crowds. #SayNo @EFL @SkyBetChamp
@TeaCider24: No need for this at all, there are barely any dead rubbers to begin with.
@______Shiv: There’s nothing wrong with the current format so I hope that stupid idea is blocked from happening. They should focus on agreeing on an extra promotion spot for National League sides. Sides like York City should’ve been promoted last season if it was 3 up 3 down
@MoustacheMickey: They should just scrap the playoffs full stop and make it so the top 3 go up. It’s ridiculous that a side could finish 6th and get promoted over a side that finished 3rd and loads of points clear of them. When you are not rewarded for your success over a season, it’s a joke.
@roathboy: Terrible idea. Even when it’s just four, you’re rewarding average, unworthy teams
@1884DT: Works absolutely fine currently so naturally they want to potentially change it. But that’s managed decline for you.
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