The play-offs were introduced to the English Football League in 1987 and have been a permanent fixture ever since.
Initially, the finals were played over two legs, but since 1990, the format has consisted of a one-off final. Play-offs have provided memorable moments over the years, including the highest-attended Championship play-off final in 2014, where 87,348 fans witnessed QPR’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Derby County.
However, while the play-offs generate excitement and revenue, is it time to reassess whether the system is still fit for purpose?
Should Teams Finishing Well Behind Be Promoted?
One of the main criticisms of the play-offs is that they allow teams who finish significantly behind their rivals to gain promotion. In the Championship, the team finishing sixth can win promotion over a side finishing third, despite often accumulating far fewer points. This disparity is even more glaring in League One and League Two, where a team finishing seventh can leapfrog a fourth-placed team that performed consistently well over the season.
For example, in 2022, Sunderland finished fifth in League One, five points behind MK Dons in third, yet went on to gain promotion via the play-offs. Is it fair that a team performing consistently over 46 games can miss out on promotion to a side that finishes a couple of wins behind them? Critics argue that the system undermines the integrity of the league format, where points earned over the course of a gruelling season should hold more weight.
One-off Pressure Matches Can Be Harsh
The drama and excitement of play-off finals are undeniable, but one-off matches can be cruel on teams that have proven their worth over the season. A single bad day at Wembley can undo months of hard work, with a small error or moment of brilliance deciding a club’s fate.
For instance, a club finishing third, just missing out on automatic promotion, can be beaten by a team that scraped into sixth place, purely because of the unpredictable nature of knockout football. In a league system where endurance, consistency, and squad management over 46 games are rewarded, it seems counter-intuitive that a club’s entire season can hinge on one match.
A potential alternative could be to introduce a two-legged final, as was the case in the early days of the play-offs, to reduce the influence of one-off anomalies.
Making the Play-Offs More Engaging
While the current format generates excitement, the system could be made more engaging by introducing teams from the relegation zone of the division above. This would create a dynamic where lower-ranked Premier League or Championship teams battle with high-flying clubs from the division below, adding further intrigue and competitive balance.
For example, in Germany, the Bundesliga features a play-off between the team finishing 16th in the top division and the third-placed team in the second tier. This format maintains interest at both ends of the table and ensures that promotion and relegation battles remain competitive until the final game. Implementing a similar system in England could add drama while giving clubs from higher divisions a chance to fight for their status.
Exploring Alternatives: The League Split Model
Several countries, including Scotland and Belgium, employ a league split model that keeps interest alive without relying heavily on play-offs. In Scotland’s Premiership, after 33 games, the league splits into a top and bottom six, with each section playing a further five games.
This format ensures that every team has something to play for late in the season, whether it’s European qualification or avoiding relegation. A similar model in the English Football League could see the league split into promotion and play-off groups after a certain number of games, ensuring that mid-table sides remain competitive while reducing the randomness associated with traditional play-offs.
Conclusion: Time for Change or Tradition?
The play-off system in English football has provided unforgettable moments and continues to be a thrilling conclusion to the season. However, the fairness of the system is increasingly being questioned. Teams that perform consistently over the season can lose out to sides that peak at the right time, while the pressure of one-off finals can be unforgiving.
Exploring alternative models, such as integrating relegation-threatened teams from the higher division or implementing a league split, could strike a better balance between excitement and fairness. While change may be necessary, any reform must ensure that the passion and drama that make the play-offs so special are not lost.
