Big Championship change set for key March vote - as Premier League opposes move due to 'quality' argument
A big move than will change the make up at the end of the Championship season is set to be voted on by clubs next month.
The Championship play-off final is one of the most lucrative games in world football - and attracts the eyes of millions as teams have one final chance for a shot at the Premier League.
Well now it looks likely that more sides will have a chance in the end of season shootout.
The idea of a six team play-off, up from four, was talked about last year by the EFL - and now they are closing in on it becoming a reality.
The FA board has already approved the new plans from the EFL - and now it needs to go to a vote in a meeting on March 5 where there will be a vote over the new format - that would then begin next season.
All 72 EFL clubs will vote on the move, which is only impacting the Championship. To get passed, the motion will need a simple majority to be formalised.
The decision by the FA to back the plans was made in December - while the Premier League was in opposition, arguing that the move to potentially allow the eighth placed team to earn promotion would bring a drop in standards.
How will the new set up work?
The new play-off set up will be similar to the National League.
The fifth placed team will play the eighth placed team, and sixth would play seventh, at the higher-ranked club’s ground in a one-off tie to decide 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.
According to reports, the EFL is confident they will be able to get the proposal over the line.
Sky Sports, who hold the rights to the EFL games have backed the changes and if the new format is successful - they will soon be looking to expand them to League One and Two.
