The Championship play-offs will feature six teams from next season. The EFL announced its clubs had passed a proposal to increase the number of play-off participants from four to six at an all-club meeting on Thursday. Supporters of the change believe it will create more interest in the run-in to the Championship season, as it gives more teams a chance to qualify for the post-season and a shot at promotion to the Premier League.
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Anthony Gordon scored four goals as rampant Newcastle United blew Qarabag away to take control of their last 16 Champions League play-off tie. It took Gordon just two minutes to open the scoring after the latched on to a through ball from marauding centre-back Dan Burn and finished coolly past goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski into the bottom corner. Newcastle did not let up from that moment and lead by five at the interval.
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Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Vítor Pereira as their fourth head coach of the season. The former Wolves manager takes over from Sean Dyche, who was sacked on Thursday, on a contract until June 2027. Pereira inherits a team one place and three points above the relegation zone. Dyche lasted 25 matches after replacing Ange Postecoglou, who was given eight games as the successor to Nuno Espírito Santo.
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Nottingham Forest are looking for their fourth head coach of a turbulent season after sacking Sean Dyche. Dyche was relieved of his duties in the wake of a goalless Premier League draw with bottom side Wolves on Wednesday night, having been in charge at the City Ground for just 114 days. Forest’s failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Wolves left them three points clear of the relegation zone.
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EFL clubs will next month vote on an expansion of the Championship playoffs to six teams after being given approval to pursue the radical change by the Football Association’s board. The 72 EFL clubs were on Tuesday invited to an extraordinary general meeting on 5 March, when the vote will take place on a new playoff format that would begin next season. A simple majority of the 72 clubs and 24 in the Championship – 37 and 13 votes in favour respectively – is required to formalise a regulation change.
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