Former Sheffield United man explains why Blades can make promotion push next season
Sheffield United will have ambitions of pushing for promotion next season after an underwhelming 13th-placed finish in 2025/26.
Former Sheffield United midfielder Don Hutchison is backing his old club to take full advantage of the Championship’s expanded play-off system and launch a promotion push next season.
It was confirmed back in March by the English Football League (EFL) that EFL clubs had approved plans to expand the number of Championship play-off spots from four to six, starting in the 2026/27 season.
It means from next season onwards the Championship’s top eight will each be in with a shot of securing promotion to the Premier League, with the top two, as per tradition, going up automatically while those that finish between third and eighth will contest the play-offs.
The play-offs will be made up of seven fixtures in total, with the two winners of the eliminator ties progressing to the two-legged semi-finals and locking horns with the two sides that finish third and fourth in the regular Championship table respectively.
United, who will discover their fixture list for the forthcoming campaign on June 25, have ambitions of launching a promotion charge next term after finishing a very disappointing 13th in 2025/26. A summer of unnecessary upheaval and a disastrous start to the campaign led to Rubén Sellés being sacked less than three months into his tenure and Chris Wilder being reinstated.
Following Wilder’s return to Bramall Lane on September 15, United had the ninth-best record in the division, winning 60 points from 41 games. With that in mind, it should provide encouragement that the Blades can make progressive strides this summer and kick on next term.
And with two extra play-off places up for grabs, Hutchison believes United can take full advantage amid their quest to return to the Premier League at the third time of asking.
Hutchison, who spent two years of his playing career at Bramall Lane, told Spreadex Sports: “With the new play-off format, you’re now looking at a top-eight finish which is great for the fans, as it adds a bit more jeopardy.
“So clubs going into the final weeks of the season in 12th place will still be thinking they can make it - there will be no dead rubbers so it’ll be very interesting and looks to me a good move from the EFL.
“If you look at last season, Sheffield United may have looked miles off promotion, but the fact they were only a few wins behind Derby in eighth shows you how close they would be under the new format, so they should fancy their chances.”