EFL Discusses Adding Eliminator Round To Premier League Promotion Play-Offs

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 16:00 IST

Discussions are ongoing to expand the English Football League's Championship play-offs system for Premier League promotion to two extra teams.

EFL Championship. (X)

A controversial proposal influencing the English Football League (EFL) and Premier League promotion has struck a chord. According to reports, the EFL authorities are considering a debatable tweak to the championship’s traditional play-offs system, which determines the final promotion spot within each division of the league.

Until now, play-offs have been held annually among the four highest-ranked sides outside the automatic promotion places in a two-legged system before the promotional final. Last summer in EFL, Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City made it to the Championship play-offs. Sunderland, placed fourth, defeated third-ranked Sheffield United 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium in London.

But the number of participants in the play-offs could now jump from four to six in a brand-new system for England’s second tier. As per a report by The Athletic, EFL heads are discussing the addition of an eliminator round to the Championship play-offs, which will involve two extra teams. At an early stage, for now, the proposal is similar to the one used by the National League. It comes with a slight twist.

While the National League play-offs are all one-off matches, the EFL’s new play-off system would have the fifth-ranked team on the Championship table playing the eighth-placed side and the sixth qualifier taking on the seventh in one-off eliminators at the higher-ranked side’s home venue. The winners of these knock-out clashes would proceed to play the two-legged ties against the third and fourth best teams. Secure victory there, and you have the chance to contest for Premier League promotion at Wembley.

The idea was presented to the executives of clubs at a meeting last week by Preston North End chief executive Peter Ridsdale and reportedly found takers, who responded positively to the suggestions of opening the Premier League promotion opportunity to more teams in the second tier. As the idea reached fans on social media, it was disapproved by many.

“This would be absolutely dreadful. The gap to the Premier League is big enough without the team in eighth possibly going up. Don’t finish in the top quarter of the league, you don’t deserve promotion. Simple as that," Sport Bible quoted a fan saying.

“The playing field isn’t level enough for any team going up, let alone if some eighth-placed team scrapes their way up. The playoffs are *PERFECT* already. Leave them alone and focus on getting more teams up and down between League Two and the National League," said another.

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