The Championship playoffs are set to undergo a significant transformation, with a new six-team format set to be implemented next season, following the approval of EFL clubs. This change, which adds a quarter-final stage, aims to enhance the competition's competitiveness and commercial appeal, according to EFL CEO Trevor Birch. The new format will see the fifth-placed team face the eighth-placed team, and the sixth-placed team take on the seventh-placed team, with the higher-ranked club hosting the tie. The winners of these one-off matches will then progress to the two-leg playoff semi-finals, pitting them against the clubs that finished third and fourth. This setup mirrors the National League's format, which has been in place for the past eight seasons.
The expansion of the playoffs is expected to have a positive impact on the Championship's commercial value, with Sky Sports, the EFL's domestic rights holder, having already given its approval. However, despite the addition of two extra marquee fixtures, Sky Sports will not increase its rights fee for the final three seasons of its contract, which is worth £935 million over five years. This decision may prompt the EFL to seek more lucrative TV rights packages in the future.
The Premier League has raised concerns about the potential drop in standards if the eighth-placed team is promoted, but the Football Association board has overruled these objections and approved the EFL's proposal. The current four-team playoff format in the Championship has been in place since the 1988-89 season, and the new structure aims to address the apparent drop-off in quality between the top three teams and the rest of the division. The gap between the eighth-placed team and the third-placed team has been significant in recent seasons, with 12-point and 24-point deficits in the last two seasons alone.
The EFL believes that this change will provide more clubs and their supporters with a genuine opportunity to achieve promotion, strengthening the Championship's position as a competitive and exciting league. The success of the new format in the Championship could lead to its adoption in League One and League Two in the future, further enhancing the EFL's appeal and competitiveness across all divisions.
