The Football League will expand the Championship play-offs from next season — but Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth is not a fan of the idea.
At a general meeting on Thursday, EFL clubs approved changes to increase the number of teams competing in the Championship play-offs from four to six, starting from the 2026/27 season.
At present, there are no plans to extend the changes to League One and League Two, although a six-team play-off system is already used in non-league competitions, including the National League.
Currently, Championship teams finishing third to sixth compete for promotion at the end of the regular season.
From 2026/27, play-off quarter-final matches will be played between teams finishing fifth to eighth. Third and fourth-placed teams will progress directly to the semi-finals.
The EFL said the “decision is intended to increase the number of competitive fixtures during the closing stages of the campaign, while also giving two additional clubs the opportunity to reach the play-off final at Wembley and progress to the Premier League.”
Gills manager Gareth Ainsworth has extensive play-off experience as a manager, including three play-off final appearances as Wycombe Wanderers boss.
“I would have preferred it to stay the same,” said the current Gills boss.
“We’ve tinkered a lot with football over the years and that’s the game. We’ve tinkered a lot with society and there’s a lot of things that used to be a lot better. But there’s still things that have improved. That’s life.”
He added: “I like the old system of the bottom of the league playing the top of the league below.”
Gillingham famously beat Sunderland over two legs in a 1987 play-off tie, relegating the north east side from Division Two.
The result led to the Gills playing Swindon Town in a promotion final from Division Three, which they lost in a replay after the sides finished level over two legs.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said the play-offs have been a highlight of the domestic football calendar since their introduction in the 1986/87 season.
“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,” he said.
Gillingham were last involved in a play-off campaign in 2009 when they won promotion after beating Shrewsbury Town in the final at Wembley.
The Gills are currently 12 points adrift of the League 2 play-off places this season with 13 games remaining. They host Fleetwood Town this Saturday.
