Championship play offs to be expanded

Not relevant for Charlton this year, but could be next year if we stay up.   It would be even more promising if the regulator curbs parachute payments.

Clubs in the English Football League are set to vote on plans to expand the Championship play-offs to six teams.   The New York Times reports that their sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated the 72 clubs in the EFL will vote on increasing the number of spots from four to six at an extraordinary general meeting on March 5.

The vote will represent the final step in a lengthy consultation process, which has involved discussions between the EFL, clubs, and the Football Association, and required the approval of the FA Board.

The vote will require a straight majority, rather than the two thirds majority used by the Premier League, to pass, meaning 13 Championship clubs and 37 EFL clubs overall will need to vote in favour if the change is to be approved.

The Athletic reported in September that the EFL was considering a plan to add an eliminator round to the Championship play-offs, which would increase the number of teams involved to six.

The proposal would follow a similar format to the National League play-offs, with the team that finishes fifth playing the eighth-place team and sixth meeting seventh in one-off ties at the home ground of the higher finishing club. The winners would then progress to a two-legged semi-final tie against the teams who finished in third and fourth, before the final at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

The aim is to reduce the number of meaningless games towards the end of the season, add two more high-profile games to the calendar and give more clubs a shot at promotion.  The idea was presented to Championship executives by Preston North End chief executive Peter Ridsdale at a meeting in September and received initial widespread support.

End-of-season play-offs were first introduced to the EFL in 1987, and the idea to expand them has been mooted before. Former Crystal Palace and Bristol City chief executive Phil Alexander, who is now CEO of the National League, proposed it several times in the past — initially in 2003 — without success.