Championship: Managers react to Premier League extending Championship qualifiers

Neil Warnock is the most successful manager in the playoffs since they were first introduced in 1987, winning four promotions and believes it will encourage more teams who may have previously thought their season was over.

He told BBC Sport: “I thought it was a bad thing when it first came about but it’s turned into a good thing – certainly for me anyway. I’ve finished every position and gotten a promotion so I don’t think it matters.”

“For the middle teams in the table after Christmas, it gives you more momentum but it makes it more difficult for the teams in third or fourth place as there is a bit more opportunity for other people to beat the top teams.”

Millwall finished eighth in the championship last season with 66 points, while Bristol City took last place in the playoffs with 68 points.

Third-placed Sheffield United, who lost the final to Sunderland, earned 90 points, but Preston coach Paul Heckingbottom does not believe that gives teams that finish a long way behind the top teams an unfair chance.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I’ve heard that argument and I can’t believe people are saying that.”

“Sunderland were lucky to beat Coventry in the semi-final and then were lucky to beat Sheffield United by a decision that I can’t understand against Sheffield United. Sunderland have reached the play-offs and are (now) the best promoted team.”

Derby’s John Eustace agrees that teams that finish lower will suffer no more than those that actually win promotion.

“Look at the teams that are coming up, unless you spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of pounds it’s difficult to stay at that level, so it doesn’t make a huge difference,” he said.

Birmingham City are currently eight points adrift of the top six, but just two adrift of eighth, and their boss Chris Davies says that will make the competition more interesting.

He said, “I think it is a good idea in principle and gives more opportunities to teams like us. For example, this season the situation will bring us closer.”

“I’m not against it, but I didn’t push to say we need to do it. It would certainly open up the league and it would be interesting to see how it goes.”