The EFL have today confirmed that the Championship play-offs will be expanding from four teams to six teams and consist of two extra fixtures.
This means that teams all the way down to eighth place in the Championship will have the chance to compete in the play-offs and will play in an extra eliminator tie.
While an official format will be agreed later in 2026 it is expected that the eliminator, will take place against the sides that finish fourth and fifth and will be a one-legged affair.
That will take place at the home stadium of the team that finished higher in the table and will come into affect from the 2026/27 season.
Credit: Graham Burrell
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said: “Following several months of discussion with Clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more Clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”
The changes were confirmed following an AGM this morning where a vote was conducted. However, with Lincoln City currently sat ten points clear of third place in SkyBet League One, why weren’t the side included?
Surely at this late point in the season, the vote could have been conducted following the confirmation of next season’s football league sides to make it fair for the teams coming into the Championship.
While the change seems to be positive for the Imps we don’t know which way the side would have voted or how the split did eventually fall when the vote took place.
However, we do understand that potentially upwards of 20 clubs were in favour of the change so it would have most likely had little impact.
However, Premier League clubs are concerned that it may dilute the quality of England’s top division so the sides coming down may have voted differently to those currently sat atop of the Championship.
Ultimately, while the change benefits Lincoln City from the outside looking in, those higher up in the club’s chain of command would have liked a say in changes affecting the division they look likely to be playing in next season.