Ipswich Town CEO, Mark Ashton, has reveled the decision to extend the Championship play-offs had 'almost universal' support.
Teams that finish seventh and eighth will now qualify for the end-of-season promotion lottery. Fifth will host eighth and sixth play seventh in one-off knock-out games. Those who progress will play third and fourth in the current format.
The argument for was largely financial. It gives more teams a chance of promotion and keeps their season alive for longer. Given the huge losses across the division, Ashton explained why almost everyone was on board.
“We supported it, I think it was more or less unanimous in fairness,” Ashton told talkSPORT.
“Look, financial losses in the Championship are substantial, so it was an opportunity to probably extend the season with a different type of format, which would drive revenues at the back end of the season and would keep the team further alive for those clubs in the mid-block.
“So when we looked at it, I think really as a group of chief executives, chairmen and owners in the Championship, there weren’t many voices against it to be fair. I think we'll give it a try – and the EFL – and see how it goes.”
Asked about the expansion at the time, Michael O'Neill felt it would ,make the play-offs more attainable. For Blackburn Rovers, who have finished seventh in two of the last four years, it helps their cause.
"It's an interesting one. I suppose it'll keep the season even more active than it already is," O'Neill said.
"For teams probably in our situation, it means you can only be three or four points away from where we could be in the playoffs.
"It's as ridiculous as that when you look at the gap between where eighth place will be and maybe where 16th or 17th will be at that point in time.
"I suppose that keeps that situation brewing for as long as possible. It's an interesting one. It's only one extra game.
"I think that like anything, the higher up the table you finish, it's a bad idea. The lower down you finish, it's a good idea.
"The decision has been made and it'll open up that intensity and clamour to be in the playoffs next year."
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