 At the end of the league stage, top teams advanced to a series of promotion play-offs.From the first season of the Championship in 2009–10 to 2011–12, the top eight teams advanced; from 2012–13 through to 2016–17, the top four advanced.A relegation play-off involving the bottom four teams existed through the 2011–12 season, but was scrapped from 2012–13 on.