6 Clubs in the Play-Offs from Next Season 2026/27

[jackharris]

As it says on the tin.

 

[Resolvenjack]

Should just go back to the top 3 best teams go up. It is giving teams who may be 20 - 30 points behind the third place team a chance of promotion by winning 4 lucky games.

 

[Wr1]

Makes finishing 3/4 mean something as you’ll play less games. How many times do you see teams who are guaranteed in the playoffs let off for the last few weeks.

 

[sit_down_jack]

No great fan of this. It’s difficult for the automatic teams to compete already, imagine the team that squeaks in at that last play off place ends up winning them and goes up. In my view all it does is make sure that one of the promoted teams could be even weaker than usual and puts yet more emphasis on summer spending to stay up. Could have disastrous financial consequences for some clubs.

Only potential positive is that it strengthens our chances of making the play offs.

 

[JackFish]

Not a fan of this change at all. Single-legged semi finals are worse for the teams finishing higher up and a team finishing 8th has no business being in the playoffs.

More chance for us I guess

 

[Neath_Jack]

No great fan of this. It’s difficult for the automatic teams to compete already, imagine the team that squeaks in at that last play off place ends up winning them and goes up. In my view all it does is make sure that one of the promoted teams could be even weaker than usual and puts yet more emphasis on summer spending to stay up. Could have disastrous financial consequences for some clubs.

Only potential positive is that it strengthens our chances of making the play offs.

Didn’t Sunderland squeak in last year and are now the best of the promoted sides?

 

[J_B]

Didn’t Sunderland squeak in last year and are now the best of the promoted sides?

They were certainly second best in all three play off games but managed to hang on and then find a winner.

 

[sit_down_jack]

Didn’t Sunderland squeak in last year and are now the best of the promoted sides?

They were top 4 for pretty much the whole season so they didn’t really squeak in, they weren’t favourites against Sheffield United though so they weren’t ‘expected’ to go up. They also spent on proven Prem and Champions League quality players last summer. How many 8th placed teams would be able to do that if they managed promotion?

Idk, I’m cynical by nature but I just don’t see how this improves anything.

Hoping we finish 8th next year though

 

[Cooperman]

I wasn’t a huge advocate, but it is what it is. I am sure that in just a few short years the current format will be completely forgotten about, in much the same way as the old play off formats have been forgotten about.

If we finish 8th and go up we’re all going to be thrilled. If we finish 3rd and lose in the final to the 8th place team we’re going to be up in arms. This is how we roll as footy fans

 

[magicdaps10]

Personally I thought the set up that is in place was sufficient enough.


My mind might change down the line though.

 

[Smurph]

Great news, the Jacks are going up!

 

[jonboyswan]

Not a fan of this change at all. Single-legged semi finals are worse for the teams finishing higher up and a team finishing 8th has no business being in the playoffs.

More chance for us I guess

The semi finals will still be played over 2 legs.

 

[J_B]

Exactly a third of the league will be in the post season promotion mix.
It's a bit crazy but gives clubs like ours a slightly bigger incentive.