League One clubs will again be allowed to make up to five substitutions per game next season, the EFL has confirmed.

The change was brought in last summer after it was initially trialled during the pandemic in an attempt to combat fixture congestion.

However, Championship clubs will be allowed to name nine substitutes in their matchday squad from next season.

This will NOT be the case for League One and League Two sides, who will again be limited to seven players on the bench.

This change sees the Championship move in line with the system already in place in the Premier League.

An official statement read: “Following a discussion by EFL clubs regarding the number of substitutes named in matchday squads, Championship clubs have opted to use five substitutes from nine named (an increase from seven named) from the 2023-24 season.

“Clubs in League One and League Two will continue to use five substitutes from seven named on the bench.”

Player welfare was reportedly one of several reasons behind the change given the intense schedule EFL clubs face at times.

However, detractors have argued that it will widen the gap between the Championship and League One.

According to a report by The Daily Mail, some clubs in the third and fourth tiers voted against the change due to concerns over additional costs, such as travel and hotel rooms for away fixtures.

Wanderers kick-off the new League One season with a home game against Lincoln on Saturday, August 5.

Ian Evatt’s men will be hoping to build on their fifth-place finish last term, which ultimately ended in a narrow defeat against Barnsley in the play-offs.

The Whites have already made four signings this summer, bringing in goalkeepers Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman on free transfers from Chelsea and Ipswich respectively.

Josh Dacres-Cogley also signed up after his Tranmere deal expired, while Dan Nlundulu joined from Southampton on a permanent deal.