- Two more Championship play-off places confirmed for next season.
- Extra places should reduce “dead rubber” games.
- Fears that it could disadvantage smaller teams.
From next season, the Championship will add two more play-off places. While it would add to the drama of the league, some have expressed disdain for this development.
The case for…
One argument for adding extra play-off places is that it reduces the number of “dead rubber” games in the Championship.
By giving teams more to play for, there is less risk of players being “on the beach” as they have to focus.
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch emphasised this, saying ” 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 case against…
For a number of fans there is still discontent that the play-offs exist at all. There is the feeling that the team who finishes third gets no additional benefit from the team finishing sixth.
Teams who win the play-offs also have a disadvantage in that they don’t know they are getting promoted and therefore have less time to budget and organise transfers for the Premier League.
The two teams who get promoted via the two automatic spots know they are promoted and therefore are able to spend more time focusing their efforts on reinforcing their team for the next step up.
How I feel…
I get where people are coming from. Teams are already struggling when promoting to the Premier League. With more play-off spots, there is the risk that smaller teams would find it even harder to fund their time on the top stage.
As a fan though, I do like the idea that there is more for teams to aim for. The Championship is a long slog of a league and while it is fantastic to watch one of the most exciting moments is the race to make the play-offs alongside the top two and the slide into League One relegation.
Make it work
The pressure is on for Norwich City and other Championship teams to make this work. It has already been a tough time when it comes to investing in players without breaking the bank in the process.
The temptation will be to go for broke in order to reach these extra two play-off spots.
The change has been put through so it is time for fans, players, managers and boards to prepare themselves for even more drama in an already dramatic league.
