Credit: Imago

Jack Dawson

Thu 11 September 2025 13:34, UK

Portsmouth are continuing to find success in the Championship since their promotion to the second tier in 2024.

Under John Mousinho, the Portsmouth have survived the drop and are now looking to become an established team in the division.

So far this season, Pompey could go beyond these hopes, with Portsmouth’s win over Preston leaving them eighth in the Championship table. 

Now, the Fratton Park faithful’s dreams of a Premier League return may not be too far away.

EFL consider expanding Championship playoffs to six teams

Portsmouth currently have a slim chance of getting promoted to the Premier League, according to Opta.

As it stands, the playoffs are their best bet, with Pompey currently one point off the top six.

However, according to The Athletic on 11 September, the number of teams that qualify for the playoffs could soon be expanded.

The EFL is currently considering expanding the number of teams from four to six, with an eliminator round added. 

• The proposal will see teams that finish in seventh and eighth qualify for the playoffs
• These sides would enter an elimination round against fifth and sixth
• The winners of these ties will play the third and fourth teams in a two-legged match

This proposal has received widespread support from Championship clubs, with Preston North End chief executive Peter Ridsdale presenting the idea last week.

The system would work much like the one in the National League, but instead of the one-off matches, the winners of these eliminators would then proceed to two-legged ties against the teams that finished third and fourth.

League One and Two could also see this implemented, but as it stands, the Championship is the priority.

• Read more: John Mousinho now has ‘priority issue’ as Portsmouth work on worst-case scenario

Added playoff slots will make it harder to gain promotion

While it may not seem like it on paper, Portsmouth will likely struggle more to get promotion via the playoffs if this proposal is implemented.

In the National League, since this has been introduced, five of the eight teams that have gone up in the playoffs have finished in the top two positions, therefore not playing an elimination round.

While many factors could be the reason for this, the additional matches for the rest of the teams likely play a part.

Therefore, if Portsmouth were to finish between fifth and eighth, they would be at a disadvantage if they were to proceed past the elimination round.

The whole point of the playoffs is that every has an equal chance of promotion; this proposal would rid the clubs of this.

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