Bennett Bemoans Play-Offs

Remember Benno
By Chris O'Brien
April 4 2005

Former Bluebird Gary Bennett has spoken out against the play-off set-up that he believes is unfair. The physical centre-half fondly remembered by the Ninian Park faithful used the current situation in the Football League Championship of why, he feels, the play-off system is flawed.

Cardiff City may be as far away from the play-off picture as Sam Hammam is from the nation's richest list, but one of the club's former legends Gary Bennett has criticised the end of season lottery and would like to see the Football League opt for a straight promotion system.

City benefited from the play-off system in 2003 when the Bluebirds won promotion to England's second flight despite only finishing 6th in the Second Division, but even club officials including chairman Hammam admitted that promotion was undeserved considering the final league position of the club. City have also been involved in play-off fixtures in 1997 and 2002, but have never been cheated by the season.

Opinions on the play-offs are heavily divided. The big advantage of the format is that it gives teams even in the thick of mid-table security something to battle on for and it keeps up attendances, which do often wane when there is no promotion chase or relegation battle to enjoy. Also, who could forget our day at the Millennium Stadium and how close we came to a South Wales derby with the Jacks at Wembley in the 90's? However, often teams finishing 15 points above the team in 6th or 7th position cannot win promotion despite perhaps only missing out on the automatic slots on goal difference.

Bluebirds legend Gary Bennett has spoken out against the play-off system and has encouraged the Football League to make the unlikely move backwards in abolishing the controversial end of season tombola. Bennett used the current situation in the Football League Championship as an example of how cruel the play-offs can be.

"Sunderland, Wigan and Ipswich are three outstanding teams in the division yet one of them is going to have to take a chance against a team that may be around 15 points behind them in sixth place." said the ??-year-old.

"That cannot be right. Yes, we all know the rules before a ball is kicked but that doesn't mean we can't change them, does it? And surely if the team in third place finishes 10 or 12 points ahead of the fourth club, they should be promoted automatically."

A versatile player, Bennett could play in either defence or attack and made a real name for himself at Ninian Park. He moved to Sunderland in 1984 for £65,000 and the towering physical presence of 'Benno' saw him a fan favourite in the North East too. He now plays a big part in the 'Kick Racism Out of Football Campaign' and has coached at Darlington.

Sadly, relegation is the grave concern at present, but what is your opinion on the current play-off set-up? Have your say on the Bluebird to the Bone messageboard.