Championship play-offs to change - but will it be good change for the second tier?

EFL clubs have voted to extend the Championship play-offs from four teams to six from next season.

The decision was passed by a majority of EFL and Championship clubs, and represents the first change to the second-tier play-off format since 1990 - when the final was switched to Wembley for a one-off tie, having previously been a two-legged affair.

England's second tier has adopted a similar model to the one in the National League, with eliminator matches included before the semi-final stage.

While the format will not be confirmed until the summer, it is expected that the expansion would see the play-offs take a similar shape to the current National League format, albeit with a couple of key differences:

But will the new format be a good thing?

The big question. A lot of concerns have been aired over the prospect of a team finishing eighth in the Championship going on to reach the Premier League, and not being able to compete.

Frankly, for several reasons, that might be a non-issue.

First of all, it is rare enough for a team finishing sixth to actually win the play-offs in the current format, let alone a side finishing eighth and then having to face an extra eliminator before getting to the semi-finals - should that be the format.

There have only been two occasions in the Championship era (since 2004/05) when a team finishing sixth have gone on to win the play-offs. West Ham did it in 2005, and Blackpool were the last 16 years ago.

There have also only been five occasions in total in the same stretch of time when the team finishing sixth have even reached the final.

The difference in quality and points between the sides finishing third and sixth is usually a lot wider than between the sides finishing sixth and eighth.

For example, last season, Sheffield United finished 22 points ahead of Bristol City. There were fewer points between Bristol City and the relegation zone. And that chasm showed in the play-off semi-finals as the Blades cruised to a 6-0 aggregate win.

The average gap between third and sixth since 2004/05 is just over 10 points. In the last 10 years the average has risen to 12 points.

In the Championship era the average gap between sixth and eighth, meanwhile, is just 4.6 points.

Last season the gap between Bristol City in sixth and Millwall in eighth was just two points. Middlesbrough could have made the play-offs with a win on the final day and ended up finishing in 10th.

The difference in quality between any of those sides heading into the semi-finals, would have been minimal. Frankly, there is not much more of a concern between a side finishing sixth or eighth being promoted, based on league placing alone.

Yes. For one, it offers a serious competitive advantage to finishing third or fourth, beyond just a home game in the second leg of the semi-finals.

Last season, Sunderland found themselves in a position where they barely had to turn up for the final couple of months of their season because they knew they couldn't realistically finish in the top two, or outside of the top six.

Had they faced the potential of a drop from fourth to fifth leaving them with an eliminator tie, they might not have turned off and lost their final five games of the season. The prospect of avoiding an extra eliminator tie is genuine incentive and a real difference maker.

It will also provide genuine hope for clubs with smaller budgets to believe they can give themselves a chance, while fallen Premier League sides will also be keen as it provides a little bit more of a safety net.

Sure, finish seventh or eighth and you will still face an arduous road to get to the Premier League. But the opportunity is there. Getting to eighth is obviously a more realistic goal for most than getting to sixth.

Not really. The thought process that it would lead to fewer games with nothing at stake is also largely flawed.

Last season going into the final day we had an undecided title, two play-off spots still up for grabs and two teams from five that could have been relegated.