Proposed changes to the Championship playoffs next season

[Ram Pant]

Moving from 3rd to 6th to 3rd to 8th, apparently

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/10/efl-clubs-vote-expanding-championship-playoffs-to-six-clubs

[ramAnag]

Moving from 3rd to 6th to 3rd to 8th, apparently

https://www.theguardian.com/football...s-to-six-clubs

Bonkers imo. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and this was one of the few things that the EFL had about right.
We already see top two sides regularly struggle after promotion, how is a team possibly finishing 7th or 8th going to cope?
On the plus side…might rid us of our unwanted record.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Bonkers imo. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and this was one of the few things that the EFL had about right.
We already see top two sides regularly struggle after promotion, how is a team possibly finishing 7th or 8th going to cope?
On the plus side…might rid us of our unwanted record.

Following the model in the Conference (and to a lesser degree in the NBA) of having play ins to the play offs. Not sure it adds anything to the playoff process apart from two more home games for those finishing 5th and 6th to cash in on. Strangely it may be financially advantageous to finish 5th ot 6th as you get two home games to cash in on as opposed to just one for finishing 3rd ot 4th.

Strikes me as tinkering for the sake of it and adds little or nothing to the process except perhaps allowing still weaker teams to sneak into the greed league and get slaughtered weekly. Mind you Blackburn or Middlesbro may vote for it as they've finished in 7th or 8th regularly in recent years which may have given the chicken vendors a bit more cash not to spend.

But consider this - in the last 5 years no team finishing 7th or 8th has come near getting promotion in the subsequent years to date, so whats the point

[macstheman]

Now who's running the asylum!!

[SithHappens]

Not keen but guess if we finish 8th and go up im not going to complain.

That said if we finish 3rd and 8th placed Forest go up I'll be as angry as an angry thing.

[swaledale]

Bonkers imo. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and this was one of the few things that the EFL had about right.
We already see top two sides regularly struggle after promotion, how is a team possibly finishing 7th or 8th going to cope?
On the plus side…might rid us of our unwanted record.

Its all about the money!! I agree tinkering for the sake of it but I guess it will get approval.

[Geoff Parkstone]

So they've gone and done it. Conference model adopted from next year

[ramAnag]

Bloomin’ ridiculous imo, but I’d be very surprised if we don’t make the play offs (top 8) next season now.

[ramAnag]

Bloomin? ridiculous imo, but I?d be very surprised if we don?t make the play offs (top 8) next season now.

Sorry, site went to pot (bit like England’s bowling)! Was going to say, if the rules were in place this season, then probably Norwich, in 17th, would be in contention for a play off place.

[swaledale]

I've an idea, why not expand the playoffs to run from Aug until May, have all 24 teams play each other twice, and the top 3 get promoted?

[SithHappens]

Part of me is amazed that its not 3rd to 7th and 3rd from bottom of PL to give a little more protection to PL teams.

One of those, hate the idea but if we finish 8th I won't complain.

[macstheman]

Part of me is amazed that its not 3rd to 7th and 3rd from bottom of PL to give a little more protection to PL teams.

One of those, hate the idea but if we finish 8th I won't complain.

What a load of crap this is, Millwall finished 8th last season 34 points behind second placed Burnley and 24 points behind third placed Sheff U. Basically reward for being shhiitte!
,

[SithHappens]

What a load of crap this is, Millwall finished 8th last season 34 points behind second placed Burnley and 24 points behind third placed Sheff U. Basically reward for being shhiitte!
,

Yep agree. Would be happy to go back to top 3 promoted. While we are at it just champions in European cup too.

[macstheman]

Yep agree. Would be happy to go back to top 3 promoted. While we are at it just champions in European cup too.

Totally agree Sith, soon be finishing mid table in PL and getting a CL spot!

The great god money rules the roost!

[SithHappens]

Totally agree Sith, soon be finishing mid table in PL and getting a CL spot!

The great god money rules the roost!

Forest got mid table and qualified for Europa so yeah. I still like the idea of fa cup winners getting a better qualification, like it used to be.