Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Derby County head coach John Eustace would welcome an increased number of playoff spots in the Championship if it were ever given the go-ahead.
The Football League has held talks about adopting a playoff format similar to the National League which would introduce two extra play-off places in the Championship.
Currently, only the sides that finish third to sixth compete in the end-of-season showdown but under proposals put forward by Preston chief executive Peter Risdale, teams in seventh and eighth would also be given a crack at promotion to the Premier League.
It would work with the fifth-placed team facing the club which finished eighth. Teams in sixth and seventh would also play in a one-off tie at the home of the higher-ranked club. The winners would then take on the sides that finished third and fourth before a Wembley showdown for promotion.
The plans would need approval by the FA and the Premier League because it is a change to the rules but it could be the biggest shake-up of the playoff system since they were introduced in the 1986-87 season.
Asked whether he would back such a move, Eustace said: "Yeah, for sure. It happened in non-league when I was manager at Kidderminster. Unfortunately, I was on the other end of it, finishing very highly in the league and then getting knocked out by a team just finishing eighth.
"That wasn't great, but it's about momentum. If teams finish the season very well and if they're coming into that eighth spot full of momentum and maybe the third or fourth place is losing that, then it makes it an exciting challenge.
"The one thing I would say is if you finished 20 odd points ahead, it's a little bit unfair that you don't get promoted and the other team does.
"But it's over the course of 46 games, and the playoff system, that's what it's all about.
"That's why it's probably the most exciting league in Europe."
Would you back a change to the playoff system? Have your say HERE.
Every day, the DerbyshireLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Derby County content.
Our dedicated reporter Leigh Curtis - who you can follow on X by clicking here - follows the Rams home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur - that's why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you'll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Derby newsletter here.
You can also get all your favourite content from DerbyshireLive's Rams team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.
If you prefer reading our Rams stories on your phone, consider downloading the DerbyshireLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Derby County as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here.