Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has expressed reservations about plans to expand the Championship play-offs from the 2026/27 season.
Clubs across the English Football League approved a proposal this week that will increase the number of teams involved in the Championship promotion play-offs. The change means the current four-team format will expand to six clubs from next season.
Under the new structure, sides finishing fifth to eighth will compete in quarter-final ties at the end of the regular campaign. The teams finishing third and fourth will then enter at the semi-final stage, with the winners ultimately competing at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.
EFL officials believe the revised system will create more competitive fixtures late in the season while also offering additional clubs the chance to challenge for promotion.
Gillingham manager not convinced by changes
Ainsworth, who has experienced the drama of the play-offs several times during his managerial career, admitted he would rather the existing format remained unchanged.
“I would have preferred it to stay the same. We’ve tinkered a lot with football over the years and that’s the game.”
The Gillingham boss suggested that while football constantly evolves, not every change improves the competition.
“There’s a lot of things that used to be better, but there are also things that have improved. That’s life.”
Although the Championship will adopt the new format from next season, there are currently no plans to introduce the same system in League One or League Two. A six-team play-off structure is already used elsewhere in the English pyramid, including in the National League.
Play-offs remain central to promotion race
The play-offs have been part of the EFL calendar since the 1986/87 campaign and are widely regarded as one of the most dramatic events in English football.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said the league believes expanding the field will strengthen the competition and keep more clubs involved in the promotion race during the closing weeks of the season.
“Following several months of discussion with clubs and stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition.”
For Gillingham, the debate over the structure is not really relevant as they’re not even close to the Championship, and it comes during a challenging campaign in League Two. The club currently sit outside the play-off places with a significant gap to make up in the final weeks of the season.
The Gills last enjoyed play-off success in 2009 when they secured promotion with victory over Shrewsbury Town at Wembley.
Play-off changes split fans
The new play-off format may increase excitement in the Championship, but it also risks diluting what has traditionally been a reward for the most consistent teams over a full season.
Whether supporters view the expansion as opportunity or unnecessary change will likely depend on where their club finishes in the table.
