THE Championship play-offs will be expanded from four to six teams from next season, following a vote by the 72 EFL clubs.
The change means teams finishing third to eighth will compete for promotion to the Premier League.
The exact final form will be confirmed later this year, but it is expected to consist of seven fixtures.
The third- and fourth-placed teams would progress straight to the semi-finals. Fifth would play eighth and sixth would play seventh in a one-legged quarter-final, known as the ‘eliminator round’.
The semi-finals would remain two-legged. Third place would face the lowest-ranked remaining team, while fourth would face the highest-ranked.
The proposal required a majority of EFL clubs (37 of 72) and Championship clubs (13 of 24) to vote in favour.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “Since their introduction in 1986/87, the play-offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.
“Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”
Millwall would have qualified for the expanded play-offs four times in recent seasons: 2024-25, 2022-23, 2019-20 and 2017-18.
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The Lions are currently fourth, nine points clear of seventh-placed Southampton and the rest of the play-off chasing pack.
