The controversial change that has split opinion as Eustace issues Derby verdict

It is a decision that has split opinion no matter where you look, and it is one that, in the history of the Football League, has been seismic.

From next season, the Championship playoffs will be expanded from four to six teams but since the news was confirmed last week, it is still provoking fierce debate in which progress has been pitted against tradition.

There have been plenty of valid arguments on both sides of the fence, but nothing will change the fact that finishing eighth next season will give Derby County a shot at the Premier League.

At a recent EFL AGM, expanding the playoffs received unanimous backing, and Derby were among the clubs that voted in favour. Clubs have argued that it will add greater entertainment value, with more meaningful matches towards the end of the campaign and fewer dead rubbers.

But more importantly, financially, the Premier League is worth life-changing sums. In fiscal terms, it's the difference between a big win on a scratch card and the jackpot on the EuroMillions. Why would any club, therefore, vote against having an increased chance at a shot at the big time in a league that has been unfairly distorted by parachute payments?

The fact remains that if you want to finish in the top two, then it will be far more costly than it is to achieve eighth.

But that said, what do the managers feel about it? John Eustace has already experienced what an expanded play-off competition is like. He was manager of Kidderminster Harriers when the National League North's playoffs was expanded from four to six teams in the 2017-18 season.

They faced Bradford Park Avenue, and having finished nine points above them in the table, Harriers lost 1-0 and their shot at promotion was gone. If anybody could have a legitimate grievance, then it would be Derby's head coach but he remains open-minded.

"It's got its pros and cons," he said.

"When I was at Kidderminster, it went from four teams in the playoffs to six in the second year.

"I think the team that finished, actually, what would it have been, 7th or 8th," nearly ended up getting promoted.

"Teams pick up form throughout the season, and if you've had injury problems, during difficult moments throughout the year, then all those players come back in those last 10/15 games, it can certainly have its ups.

"I think it's exciting for the fans, but for the league above, I don't think it really matters. It's got nothing much to do with them really."

Promotion to the Premier League is worth a reported £150m, but even that carrot has not been enough to sway a large proportion of fans.

Derby-fan group Black and White Together conducted a survey of supporters to gather their views. The majority of those who took part were season-ticket holders with fans ranging from under-10s to over 65s.

The unanimous verdict was that they strongly opposed the change and that it would not make the Championship any more competitive.

They were asked what benefits it would bring: increased excitement, better opportunities, greater financial revenue and fairer competition.

While there were plenty who believed it would boost revenues, many believed it would not have much benefit.

However, it was hard to split the fans on the drawbacks, including a dilution of quality, a longer season, increased fatigue and unfair advantages to those who finish seventh or eighth.

The teams that do finish in those positions, however, will face a handicap. They will play their eliminator game away from home and they only get one shot. It's not a two-legged affair, unlike the semi-finals, which will remain in place.

This scenario may have been avoided if there had been a fairer distribution of wealth, but the Premier League will always fight against that, and it would be a bit like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.

But if that's the case, then the top flight cannot complain if a team finishes eighth in the Championship and wins promotion. They can't have it all their own way. Arguments about diluting the quality of the Premier League don't carry much weight either. Southampton were terrible last season, and Wolves have been nearly as bad this.

And as for entertainment, some would argue this season has been one of the most disappointing in some time. The fact remains that whoever wins promotion from the second tier will have to spend significantly to even have a chance of staying up.

"If you look at the teams that go up, unless they spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of pounds, it's always very difficult to remain in the league, so I don't think it makes much difference," Eustace continues.

"I don't think anyone's got any divine right to be in any league, and if they're not performing in the top league, they come down. If teams that are on the up are doing well and are given the opportunity to enjoy playing in the best league in the world, they've earned that right

"They've earned the parachute money and that makes them stronger again the following season. You also have to remember that sometimes that might be the only way that some of these players and coaches can get into the Premier League, so why not?"

As it stands right now, and if the Championship playoffs were expanded for this season, Derby would be one of those teams in with a shot at the promised land.

Would everybody forget about the drawbacks when you're four games away from the Premier League? Derby could well get an answer to that question next season.

Julien Stephan (Queen's Park Rangers): “You will probably increase the interest of the league until the last second of the last game.

“You can probably be (in 10th) before the last game and finish in eighth and play in the play-off. I think it’s a good thing – especially for the entertainment, as well for the focus of everybody until the end of the season. Do you think there's a big difference between the eighth position on the table or the sixth position on the table? I don't think so."

Rob Edwards (Wolves): “I’m not surprised. I think everyone in the Championship will want a better opportunity to be in the Premier League. I understand the format. I know the talks have been going on for a lot of this season, so I’m not surprised that that’s gone through. The play-offs are obviously an exciting way of getting promoted If it gives teams more opportunity to do that then yeah, I’m not surprised that’s gone through.”

Gary Rowett (Leicester): "From a commercial, monetary and excitement aspect I can understand why people want to add teams to the play-offs - they have been a success although you can argue if team six finishes 25 points behind team three should they have a chance to go up? As a football purist I'm not a massive fan but I understand why clubs would be so keen for more opportunities to get this golden ticket of £150m or whatever it is. Sometimes you can change things all the time and the game becomes less and less recognisable but maybe I'm just being miserable."

Chris Davies (Birmingham City): "I think it's a good idea in principle and gives more chances to teams like us. For example this season it would make for a close situation for us. I'm not against it, but I wasn't clamouring to say we need to do it. It's certainly going to open up the league and it'll be very interesting to see how it goes."