Kevin Phillips backs new Championship play-off format to add “excitement” to promotion race

Kevin Phillips believes the Championship’s new six-team play-off format will make the promotion race even more exciting, with clubs able to stay in contention deep into the season.

The former Sunderland, Southampton and England international striker is a fan of the expanded play-offs, which will keep more clubs dreaming of promotion towards the latter stages of the 2026-27 campaign.

Under the new format, teams finishing third to eighth will enter the play-offs, with fifth to eighth contesting one-off quarter-finals at the home of the higher-placed side – fifth against eighth and sixth against seventh.

The winners then progress to two-legged semi-finals, with third facing the lowest-ranked remaining team and fourth taking on the other.

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More teams in the mix

As usual, the two semi-final winners will meet at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with BestBettingSites.co.uk, he said: “It certainly makes the promotion race more exciting. Of course it does.

“It brings so much excitement coming towards the back end of the season.

“Even from Christmas onwards, teams that maybe never even thought they’d get a sniff at it might have a little run and be close.

“Am I surprised they’ve done it? Not really. We all know what’s at the end of it.

“If you are in it, there are certain positions now that managers will be looking at where they don’t want to finish or where they would like to finish.

“Of course, you want to finish in the top two and not have to worry about any of that.

“But certainly, from a fan’s perspective and the media and the TV, it’s exciting, and it’s one I’m looking forward to. It’s going to be exciting for sure.”

Norwich tipped to surprise

Phillips believes Norwich City could surprise a few people this season, backing them as his dark horse for promotion after the work Philippe Clement did at Carrow Road last season.

The 52-year-old steered the Canaries away from relegation before guiding them into contention for a play-off place, ultimately finishing just short in ninth.

Despite being his surprise pick, Phillips feels Norwich’s stature means they should not be overlooked heading into the new campaign.

“I spoke a fair bit about them last season – I think Sheffield United might [get promoted], but I’m going to put myself on the line: Norwich City,” the 53-year-old said.

“We spoke about them a fair bit and what Clement’s done down there. I think they could surprise a lot of people.

“Listen, they shouldn’t surprise a lot of people. They’re Norwich; they’ve been in the Premier League, a big football club.

“But I think they might have a good run at it this season.”

Relegated trio

And Phillips expects West Ham United, Wolves and Burnley to all challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League.

“They’ve got that advantage, haven’t they, of the parachute money? All of them have dipped in the market and spent some money,” he added.

“I think they’ll all be there or thereabouts. They’re too much of big football clubs not to be.

“Of course, we always know it’s difficult, but I think Burnley have got a great pedigree of coming out of the Championship into the Premier League.

“West Ham have done it, but many, many years ago. Wolves have done it, so they’ve all had that experience.

“I think it’ll be very, very tight. I think they’ll all be there come the end of the season.

“And if I had to really put my hat on it, I think everybody would want to beat West Ham. So that might just hinder them a little bit.

“But I fully expect them to be there or thereabouts.”

Are Imps a surprise package?

Phillips expects the three promoted clubs to face a difficult campaign, although he believes Lincoln City could surprise a few teams.

The Imps have already shown ambition in the transfer market, including a deal for Romania international defender Andrei Coubis.

Defender Callum Elder has arrived on a free and goalkeeper Joe Gauci on loan, alongside a potential deal for Danish striker Mikkel Ladefoged to be announced shortly.

“I think it’ll be difficult for Lincoln,” he said. “But on the flip side of that, they’re still riding high, aren’t they?

“They’re going to go in and give it everything they’ve got. And they might surprise a few teams.

“They’ve signed a lad, Coubis, for £2.6million or going to go to £2.6million. So they’re not afraid to spend a bit of money.”

Will ‘Spygate’ affect the Saints?

Phillips also expects Southampton to challenge for promotion despite the controversy that overshadowed their campaign last season.

The Saints were removed from the Championship play-offs and handed a four-point deduction after admitting to spying on the training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough.

“I think that such a lot was made of it, wasn’t there, last season, and rightly so,” he explained. “They’ve served their punishment and you have to move on.

“You can’t keep bringing it up, but it will get brought up.

“But I don’t think it’ll affect the players when you cross that white line, because you’re not going to be thinking about it.

“They’ve got some good players, and they’ve added to their squad as well. So I think again they’ll be challenging. It’s always a tough place to go.”

Read the full exclusive interview with Kevin Phillips for BestBettingSites.co.uk HERE

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