McKenna: Benefits and Drawbacks to Six-Team Championship Play-Off Move
Friday, 6th Mar 2026 17:21

Blues manager Kieran McKenna says there are benefits and drawbacks to the EFL clubs’ decision to switch the Championship players to six sides from next season.

A vote at a general meeting yesterday rubber-stamped the move which will see the teams placed third to eighth fight it out for the final promotion spot.

Asked his thoughts on the move, McKenna said: “I think at this point, it’s probably passed my thoughts on it, to be honest. It’s coming, it is what it is.

“The club has been involved in that process. The benefits are clear, especially from a commercial point of view, to the teams and to the league.

“The drawbacks are pretty clear from a sporting and a games perspective. And other than that, I think any manager’s opinion at this point doesn’t really matter.

“Whoever is in the league next year needs to be ready for it and use it to their benefit if possible.”

Town will hope to be in the Premier League next season and having no direct interest in the top of the Championship.

Photo: TWTD

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StowTractor added 17:37 - Mar 6 He used to be a Spurs coach. I imagine the extended playoffs will be a benefit to Spurs..
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Mark added 17:47 - Mar 6 It is wrong to extend the play-offs, and I hope Ipswich voted against it. It feels like there are so many changes happening in football, and nearly all for the worse. Competitions are being expanded, VAR is being expanded, World Cup matches are being split into quarters with advert breaks. No one ever asks the fans.
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StrathdonBlue added 18:05 - Mar 6 Pretty clear, reading between the lines, that Kieran thinks the change is a rotten idea, which it is.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:10 - Mar 6 Well Kieran, I sincerely hope you have made your own thoughts known and the club itself has done likewise, and I hope you've all told the powers that be that they are totally wrong. If either of you or both have said otherwise, then I'm afraid you are all wrong too. It would be a sad day. Commercial interests do not come before integrity and common sense.
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multiplescoregasms added 18:11 - Mar 6 I think the fact he feels the benefits are clear from a commerical pov, and the drawbacks are clear from a sporting and games perspective says it all doesn't it. It's all about money, and nothing to do with the game.
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Gforce added 18:30 - Mar 6 All the more reason why we must ensure promotion this season. Next season will be much tougher,with 3 strong teams coming down,along with the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham, Southampton,all spending big. It would be just our luck to finish 3rd,about 24 points clear of the 8th place team.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:32 - Mar 6 Gforce, exactly what I've been saying for months now. It is nothing less than an absolute essential that we are out of this league by the end of the season. Not only that, but that we stay out of it!
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Woodbridgian added 23:07 - Mar 6 Like most things in football today all about money.
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bobble added 01:35 - Mar 7 Top 3 go up, bottom 3 go down, the way it was the say it should be,.,.,.play offs are only for capitalist pigs
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grow_our_own added 08:17 - Mar 7

At the end of the season, I think there should be a 22 team playoff. Knockout format with bottom 11 teams play away from home in the first round of matches to make it fair. It'll be May, so due to global warming, mandatory drinks breaks will be required at the end of each quarter, sorry in the middle of each half. Due to the importance of these matches, VAR will be required to adjudicate every decision. Whether TV companies decide to show adverts during these extra stoppages is not be a matter for EFL. Tickets for these massive games to be available exclusively via EFL's commercial partner StubHub. All matches, from the quarter final onwards to be played at Wembley Stadium. Play-off final to be renamed the Super Soccer Final. Who's with me?

Jazzy71 added 09:28 - Mar 7

I know people criticise the play offs but personally I think they are great. When we went up in 2000, under Burley's leadership, that crazy night against Bolton. The red cards, magiltons hat-trick, followed up by the final against Barnsley should be remembered by the older town fans. Should we finish 4th this year, but go up via the playoffs fans will be loving them again. If we finish 3rd and loose fans will be saying we were robbed. Are you fans who hate the playoffs, going to vote with your feet and boycot those games and miss out on a potential promotion party at Wembley, I very much doubt it

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superblues9 added 10:27 - Mar 7 Winning the play offs is the best way to go up excitement Wembley and all that comes with it of course we would all rather go up automatically but if was guaranteed we would take play offs you should get more of a benefit for finishing 3rd though
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Karlosfandangal added 13:35 - Mar 7 I think plays offs should be a league of 23 teams who play each other home and away…..oh wait Wonder what Man U would think if they had to play the eight place team to get a Champions League place
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armchaircritic59 added 14:48 - Mar 7

Jazzy71, you're as much entitled to your opinion as anyone else. It is however an interesting conundrum you have raised. People such as me who hate the idea of any sort of play offs never mind the way it is now, and the reaction to a place in them and an eventual win in the final. Personally I don't think that particular scenario is going to play out this season, one way or another, but it's food for thought. I stand by my belief that the integrity and standing of the game come before any perceived extra needlessly generated excitement, but then it may be because I'm rather long in the tooth!