17 February ~ Earlier this week it emerged that the Premier League are considering adopting a play-off system for the fourth Champions League spot. Instead of the four highest-placed teams in the league qualifying for the competition, the top three would be joined by the winner of a play-off between the teams finishing between fourth and seventh. The proposal is being forwarded in the name of increasing competition for the league's top spots but, ironically, it could do the very opposite.

Take this season as an example. Three points currently separate Manchester City in fourth and Aston Villa in seventh. These two, along with Liverpool and Tottenham, are marooned in their own little battle, beyond the reach of eighth-placed Birmingham City – who are five points back – but too far behind Arsenal to challenge for third. There is no need for an end of season play-off for fourth place – it is currently taking place across 38 games. A play-off would compress the season into a couple of post-season cup ties, robbing it of any meaningful competitiveness and leaving the league with a series of pointless matches.

Beyond the silliness of awarding a team that finishes seventh in the league a place in the Champions League, reducing the season to a few games in May is inherently unfair. David Moyes, although in "slight favour" of the idea, has admitted as much: "I'm not sure if it's right that you work the whole season and finish seventh and that might get you in the Champions League."

With Everton one of the teams that could could benefit in future seasons, it is hardly surprising that Moyes's self-interest trumps his will to preserve the league format. Martin O'Neill is in the same position. While he recognises that "the team who finished fourth would be galled", O'Neill's chief concern is for his own club: "I wouldn't knock the play-off idea immediately, particularly if we finish seventh in the league."

The decision over the play-off will be made by the 20 Premier League clubs, with each voting on what suits them best. Although the idea seems to cheapen the league as a whole, it is appealing to most of the clubs involved. Put quite simply, it is easier to finish seventh than it is to finish fourth. For the clubs, any route to Champions League money is one worth considering. And the extra matches – or the Super Champs Mini-League, as Sky could call it – would help clubs service the debts they build up over the season.

When the Premier League owners next meet in April, a 14-6 majority will be required to push the idea through. While the play-off may give Sky another tournament to promote in May, they will have to work even harder to find Super Sundays worth getting excited about across the rest of the season.

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