THE play-offs could be extended from four clubs to six with more advantage given to those teams who finish higher in the league.

The new proposal, the brainchild of Crystal Palace chief executive Phil Alexander, will be in place in time for the 2003-04 season if it goes through.

It would do away with the current two-legged system, which gives little benefit to the team finishing higher in the league, and replace it with the eighth placed team visiting the team in fifth and the seventh placed team going to the home of the sixth.

The winners would then visit the homes of the fourth and third placed teams in a one-off semi-final with the winners meeting in the final.

The plan has already been discussed by the Football League's Board and will go before a meeting of all 72 league clubs on April 24. If it gets the thumbs up there it will go to the league's annual meeting in the summer.