West Brom could make up a southern section of the Championship after a radical proposal to regionalise the EFL emerged.
Reports over the weekend have claimed that one suggestion that could be explored amid the coronavirus pandemic is to cut up the three divisions that make up the Football League below the Premier League into north and south groups.
This would be seen as a way of cutting costs of travel and accommodation and mean Albion would have just 11 home games at The Hawthorns, quite a hit in terms of match-day revenue.
Albion, of course, will still hope to find themselves in the top flight come the beginning of next season – whenever that may be – after their sterling campaign to date this.
Slaven Bilic’s side sit in second place on 70 points, a single point adrift of Leeds United and six clear of third placed Fulham, with nine matches left to play.
The suggestion that the Baggies and Leeds could still make up a 22-team Premier League next term resurfaced last week, but at any rate both clubs will be hoping that such a proposal is redundant as that will mean a top flight campaign awaits.
The Sun on Sunday state: “A league revamp would involve the 12 teams in each sub-division clashing home and away before coming together for play-offs to decide promotion and perhaps relegation.
“This would, in theory, reduce the risk of the competition having to shut down in the wake of new Covid-19 outbreaks.
“It would also cut travel and accommodation costs.”
The two Championship regional divisions, based on this season’s teams and not factoring in relegation and promotion would line up like so…
South
Albion
Birmingham City
Charlton Athletic
Luton Town
Cardiff City
Swansea City
Fulham
Brentford
QPR
Millwall
Reading
Bristol City
North
Leeds United
Barnsley
Blackburn Rovers
Derby County
Huddersfield
Hull City
Middlesbrough
Nottingham Forest
Preston North End
Sheffield Wednesday
Stoke City
Wigan Athletic
The radical EFL plan that could see West Brom and Leeds United split up - Birmingham Live
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