Would a Champions League playoff do more harm than good for Premier League clubs?

The Premier League has drawn up proposals for an end of season playoff to determine the fourth English Champions League spot, which could potentially come into force as early as next season.

UEFA has given their backing to the proposal, which initially received strong support from all but the "big four" Champions League stalwart clubs of the Premier League. Of course a change of format such as this could blow the race for the Champions League wide open and it makes sense that clubs such as Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton would be keen to see the proposals pushed through.

However, there are also risks attached, and some have argued that the idea has not been properly thought through. For too long now, fourth place in the Premier League has been talked about almost more than winning the title, with a series of clubs pushing hard to finish in this illustrious spot. A playoff for this position would only increase the clamour surrounding the last Champions League and hype would go into overdrive. If you're going to make such a big thing about finishing fourth, why not extend the playoff to third place as well and run a mini-league, with the top two qualifying for the Champions League? Third is after all, just as arbitrary a position as fourth to reward with such high prestige and acclaim.

The obvious question of fixture conmgestion also comes into play here. Unless the Premier League is to be cut by at least two (and perhaps four) teams, I see no way that these proposals could possibly work. The English fixture list is already the most packed in European football, and time and again we've seen our best players burnt out by the time a summer tournament comes round. Surely this format would only increase the problem?

Finally, problems have been cited regarding the possible financial pressure it might put on the game at a time when just the opposite is required. With the carrot of Champions League football dangling ever closer for an increasign number of clubs, would the playoff format force more clubs to spend beyond their means in the hope of crashing the Champions League party? Could it lead to more Portsmouth situations with clubs sensing that one hard financial push could propel them into the big time forever?

The Premier League is trying to inject a greater element of competition into the Premier League, and a commend them for this approach. However, any restructuring of the league may have to be more comprehensive and perhaps more radical to address the fundamental problems facing the English game right now. I hope they think long and hard before pushing these proposals any further.

To read a Guardian article on the potential pitfalls of the proposals, click here.