Should We Change The Play-off System?

Should the Football League change the Play-off structure?

Across the Football League, the play-offs are an exciting time of the season, they can make or break your season, four teams finishing outside the promotion spots, have their chance to gain promotion to the next level, currently the system is set in a ranked way, the top play-off side plays the bottom and the middle two play each other, over two legs, with the goal of getting to Wembley for a 90 minute winner takes all match.


How about, if we change the system so its a lot fairer, as I think the system is a tad unfair perhaps, you play one side in your play-off area, and then get to the final. Why not pit your team against all four sides in a mini-league round robin competition. Where the two highest ranked sides have the extra home advantage.. Sounds complicated, yes?. Let me explain...

You have four teams,

1st West Ham (C)
2nd Middlesborough (P)
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3rd Hull City
4th Ipswich
5th Cardiff
6th Middlesborough

So there's your table..

Hull vs Cardiff
Ipswich vs Middlesborough
Ipswich vs Cardiff
Hull vs Ipswich
Cardiff vs Middlesborough
Middlesborough vs Hull

Basically, the two highest ranked sides, will have TWO home advantages, whilst the lower ranked sides won't have two home advantages, they will have only ONE. The games could be played easily over 2 weeks, and the eventual winner of the round robin table claims the last play-off spot, so it adds a little more spice and fairness to all the teams, that they have to prove themselves against everyone, not just two sides. Before you jump on my back and have a go about ticket prices, all these games should have specially reduced prices for games such as £5-£10, and should be free to ST holders.

It would generate a little extra revenue for the clubs at the end of the season, and also add some more excitement to the season. Although I doubt a change like this would be made by the Football League. A lot of people would argue, getting to Wembley is what makes the season so worthwhile, I understand that, theres nothing like seeing your team triumph at Wembley no doubt. I am just passing on a thought or two about the play-off structure!