Preston North End CEO Peter Ridsdale communicated the proposals to Championship clubs last year

EFL clubs will vote next month vote on expanding the Championship play-offs to six teams, as per reports.

Last September, it emerged that the system - which has been in place since 1987 - could be revamped. It was stated the idea had ‘widespread support’ among second tier chiefs, after being formally communicated to all clubs.

Approval from the Football Association and Premier League was required. Now, The Guardian report that the FA’s board has given it the green light. All 72 EFL clubs are now set to vote at a meeting on Thursday, 5 March.

A majority of 37 out of 72 clubs, and 13 out of 24 in the Championship, will see the regulation change formalised. It’s expected that a majority verdict in the Championship will be comfortably reached.

The proposal was communicated to second tier sides by PNE CEO Peter Ridsdale - one of three Championship representatives on the EFL board.

The Guardian suggest there was opposition from the Premier League, due to concerns about ‘a potential drop in standards and reduced competitive balance if a team finishing eighth in the Championship are promoted to the top flight.’

EFL rights holder, Sky Sports, is said to be backing the prospect, though. And if a majority verdict is reached, the new play-off system would come into play from next season. As per reports, the format could then be extended to League One and League Two over the next few years.

How would new play-offs work?

Currently, third and sixth and fourth and fifth play each other in semi-finals, with the winners meeting in the final at Wembley. The new system would see seventh and eighth placed clubs given a shot at promotion.

In an ‘eliminator’ round, fifth would host eighth and sixth would host seventh in one-leg ties. The winners would then play third and fourth in two-legged semi-finals. And, the winners of those semi-finals would then face off in the final, as normal, at Wembley.

In short, then, an additional two fixtures with third and fourth still playing a maximum of three games. But, fifth and sixth placed clubs would have to play a total of four matches in order to gain promotion: eliminator, semi-finals and final.

When asked about the idea earlier this season, Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “I think I've said many times that, along with three points for a win, the play-off changes all those years ago were one of the best things that happened to football.

“I think the Championship, because it generally is tight, a lot of teams are in with a shout right up until the end. But yeah, I'm all for it. If it went to eight teams for example instead of six, I think it should be harder for the seventh and eighth to get into that play-off shake-up if you like.

“And the eighth team can't get the same statistical advantage of getting up as the third place team. So, the format of it would be all important for me but yeah, extending the season, more and more interest, fans certainly if you're involved in the game. I'd more than welcome it.”