Managers react to Championship play-offs being expanded from four to six teams, following a vote by EFL clubs.
The play-offs in the Championship will consist of seven fixtures. A playoff eliminator will take place over one leg 5th v 8th and 6th v 7th.
The two winners of the eliminator ties will progress to the semi-finals against the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in the table. These games will then be played over two legs.
The two winning semi-finalists will meet in the Championship play-off final.
The new format will come in to place for the 2026/27 season, and follows the National League, National League North and South playoff eliminator method currently in use.
“The Premier League have concerns it might dilute the quality of promoted clubs” 😬
Rob Dorsett explains what the changes are following the agreement to expand next season Championship play-offs to six teams and what the Premier League may think about the decision 💬 pic.twitter.com/aQdon6NlAY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 5, 2026
Derby’s John Eustace said told BBC Radio Derby: “”I think it has its pros and cons. It certainly makes the season a little bit more exciting. It’ll probably help teams who have had a lot of injuries and smaller squads to keep fighting to the end of the season. There’s always that opportunity to get into the play-offs.
“So, I think it’s got its pros and cons. When I was at Kidderminster, it went from four teams in the play-offs to six in the second year and I think the team that finished seventh or eighth ended up getting promoted. Teams get different runs of form throughout the season and say if you had injury problems throughout difficult moments in the year, and they all come back in the last 10 or 15 games, it can have its ups.”
On if this change could potentially weaken the Premier League, he replied: “Maybe, but if you look at the teams that go up, unless they spend hundreds of millions of pounds, it’s always very difficult to stay up there, so I don’t think it makes much difference.”
Eustace said, when first hearing of the proposal: Asked whether he would back such a move, Eustace said: “Yeah, for sure. It happened in non-league when I was manager at Kidderminster. Unfortunately, I was on the other end of it, finishing very highly in the league and then getting knocked out by a team just finishing eighth.
“That wasn’t great, but it’s about momentum. If teams finish the season very well and if they’re coming into that eighth spot full of momentum and maybe the third or fourth place is losing that, then it makes it an exciting challenge.
“The one thing I would say is if you finished 20 odd points ahead, it’s a little bit unfair that you don’t get promoted and the other team does.
“But it’s over the course of 46 games, and the playoff system, that’s what it’s all about.
“That’s why it’s probably the most exciting league in Europe.”
Leicester’s Gary Rowett told BBC East Midlands Today: “From a commercial, monetary and excitement aspect I can understand why people want to add teams to the play-offs – they have been a success although you can argue if team six finishes 25 points behind team three should they have a chance to go up?” he told BBC East Midlands Today.
“So, as a football purist I’m not a massive fan but I understand why clubs would be so keen for more opportunities to get this golden ticket of £150m or whatever it is.
“Sometimes you can change things all the time and the game becomes less and less recognisable but maybe I’m just being miserable.”
Stoke’s Mark Robins said, per Stoke Sentinel: “I think it gives everybody a real chance. Now then, if you finish in third or you finish in fifth it might be a little bit different but it gives everyone an opportunity to keep playing and I think that’s what they’ve done it for. It’s certainly what they’ve done it for.
“What’s not to look forward to? Let’s see how that plays out.
“Hopefully first or second is something we can aspire to. On the back of what I’ve said before it is tough so it gives you another two places to have a bite at the cherry.”
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I’ve heard that argument and I can’t believe people are saying it.
“Sunderland were lucky to beat Coventry in the semi-final and then fortunate to beat Sheffield United with a decision that I can’t understand that went against Sheffield United. Sunderland got in the play-offs and are (now) the best of the promoted teams.”
Heckingbottom said when first hearing about the proposal: “Yeah it would (keep it open for longer). I think I’ve said many a times that along with three points for a win, the play-off changes all those years ago was one of the best things that happened to football.
“I think Championship, because it generally is tight, a lot of teams are in with a shout right up until the end. But, yeah I’m all for it. If it went to eight teams for example instead of six, I think it should be harder for the seventh and eighth to get into that play-off shake-up if you like.
“And the eighth team can’t get the same statistical advantage of getting up as the third place team. So, the format of it would be all important for me but yeah, extending the season, more and more interest, fans certainly if you’re involved in the game. I’d more than welcome it.”
Birmingham’s Chris Davies: “I think it’s a good idea in principle and gives more chances to teams like us. For example this season it would make for a close situation for us.
“I’m not against it, but I wasn’t clamouring to say we need to do it. It’s certainly going to open up the league and it’ll be very interesting to see how it goes.”
Southampton’s Tonda Eckert said, per Daily Echo: “We need to make sure that if you rank higher at the end of the season, you don’t lose your rhythm and that becomes a disadvantage.
“I think that’s something that we need to watch out for because sometimes it just helps you after such a long season to stay in the rhythm.
“Once you lose that, it’s sometimes not so easy to get back in.
“There are many decisions taken at the moment that are commercially driven, and I think that’s just the way that sports go.
“Not just football, but in general.”
Gillingham’s Gareth Ainsworth said, per KentOnline: “I would have preferred it to stay the same.
“We’ve tinkered a lot with football over the years and that’s the game. We’ve tinkered a lot with society and there’s a lot of things that used to be a lot better. But there’s still things that have improved. That’s life.”
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said when first hearing about the proposal: “It’s so competitive, just look at this division, it’s incredible.
“It’s the tightness and competitiveness of the division, there’s so many teams in contention and we’re one of them.
“There are teams who have [gone up] and established themselves as Premier League teams. Look at Sunderland for instance, they’ve spent the money from the TV revenue wisely, they’ve got themselves in a great position and it shows it can be done.
“Looking at the Championship there’s a lot of potentially huge clubs in this division – probably, in terms of support, bigger than some teams that are in there [the Premier League] at the moment.
“It is a distraction but I think it’s a welcome one.
“We speak about the magic of the FA Cup so when the games come I want us to enjoy it. I want us to go out there with real positivity about our performance.”
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna when first hearing about the proposal: “I’ve only seen that this afternoon.
“I get it, sort of extends it. But I feel like it’s really competitive anyway, if you look at the last few seasons in the Championship and the way teams can go up and down the league with a run and how tight it’s been at the bottom.
“I know the teams at the top for the last one or two seasons have hit a really high points total, but there’s no guarantee that’s going to continue forever.
“There’s no doubt, even coming back into it, you realise again watching the other teams and the other games, it’s one of the most competitive divisions in world football already.
“The gap between every team is small, every team has good players, you can get good players in the Championship whether you’ve got a big budget or a small budget. It’s one of the most competitive divisions anywhere.
“Extending that to give a few more teams something to fight for in the last couple of games, would probably bring more jeopardy to it at the end, so I can see the thinking behind it.”
So he’d give it the nod if it were down to him? “I’d have to think about it a little bit further.”
Neil Warnock said to BBC Sport: “I thought it was a bad thing when it first came in but it turned into a good thing – certainly for me anyway. I finished in every position and got promotion so I don’t think it matters.
“For mid-table teams after Christmas it gives you more impetus but it makes it more difficult for the teams that finish third or fourth as there’s a bit more opportunity for other people to conquer the top teams.”
