Re: Play off expansion

Fat Buddha OBE

I’m agin it.

EFL clubs will next month vote on an expansion of the Championship playoffs to six teams after being given approval to pursue the radical change by the Football Association’s board.

The Guardian has learned that the 72 EFL clubs were on Tuesday invited to an extraordinary general meeting on 5 March, when the vote will take place on a new playoff format that would begin next season.

A simple majority of the 72 clubs and 24 in the Championship – 37 and 13 votes in favour respectively – is required to formalise a regulation change approved by the EFL board last week.

The EFL’s proposal would add an eliminator round to the Championship playoffs in a format similar to that used by the National League.

The fifth-placed team would play the eighth-placed team, and sixth would play seventh, at the higher-ranked club’s ground in a one-off tie to determine progression to the two-leg playoff semi-finals against the clubs that finished third and fourth.

The winners of those ties would then meet at Wembley as normal to play for promotion to the Premier League.

I'm a regular watcher of National League football and ran the numbers a year or so ago when this first came up.

Just shy of 3 goals per game scored, which is partly because teams have to win the first game. Avoids the lifeless first leg & keeping it tight.

Also gives more advantage to sides finished 2nd and 3rd, yet does so in a way that doesn't completely kill ambition for sides 4th to 7th - hasn't been many 2nd v 3rd PO finals but 2nd & 3rd place sides win more promotions.

Finally, it does create situations where teams guaranteed of a play-off spot have something to play for at the end of the season because a win could be the difference between getting a bye to the semis or a home tie in an eliminator.

Very aware that it's a different level of football and the higher stakes at a higher level could lead to tighter games. It may not work.

But wanted to provide the argument in favour.