EFL clubs to vote on expanding Championship playoffs to six clubs

EFL clubs will next month vote on an expansion of the Championship playoffs to six teams after the Football Association’s board gave approval for the proposal to be pursued. The 72 EFL clubs were invited to an extraordinary general meeting on 5 March, when the vote will take place.

A simple majority of the 72 clubs and of the 24 Championship clubs — 37 and 13 votes respectively — is required to formalise the regulation change. The proposal would add an eliminator round similar to the National League. Fifth would play eighth and sixth would play seventh at the higher-ranked club’s ground in one-off ties 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 to play for promotion to the Premier League. The FA gave approval at a board meeting in December despite opposition from the Premier League, which is concerned about a potential drop in standards and reduced competitive balance if a team finishing eighth were promoted.

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