Overview

• The EFL has circulated the plan to all 24 Championship clubs and the board is now considering it, with widespread support reported in club boardrooms.
• The format would add single-match eliminators hosted by the higher-placed side—fifth vs eighth and sixth vs seventh—before two-legged semi-finals for third and fourth and a Wembley final.
• Competition rules prevent any mid-season change, so the earliest start would be a future campaign subject to approval from the FA and the Premier League.
• Proponents argue the expansion would reduce late-season dead rubbers and give non‑parachute clubs a better shot at promotion, with Derby head coach John Eustace welcoming the idea.
• Opponents caution that it could lower Premier League competitive quality, noting two straight seasons where all three promoted clubs were relegated, while some lower-league bodies may resist as the National League pushes for three-up, three-down.