Blackpool boss Neil Critchley has wish granted as EFL approves five substitutions per game

The English Football League has confirmed five substitutes will be allowed across all divisions from the next round of fixtures.
Neil Critchley believes the option of more substitutes will help to protect playersNeil Critchley believes the option of more substitutes will help to protect players
Neil Critchley believes the option of more substitutes will help to protect players
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Blackpool manager backs extra substitutions

That will be welcome news to Blackpool boss Neil Critchley, who has been calling for just such a change.

The game's law-making body, the International Football Association Board, announced in July that the five replacements rule would be extended into 2020-21 - but that it would be up to individual competitions whether they adopted it.

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The Premier League is the only major top-flight division in Europe which does not allow teams to make five changes in a match during the current campaign, with the Champions League, Europa League and international fixtures also permitting five substitutes.

The proposal has twice failed to secure the 14-club majority needed to be adopted for the new season, after a vote to use five subs during the final two months of the delayed 2019-20 campaign was supported.

As we reported on Tuesday, Pool head coach Critchley said: “Personally, I think it’s a good idea to have five subs. I know the argument in the Premier League is that it gives the ‘big six’ an unfair advantage but I think it’s about doing the right thing for the players.

“If that looks after the health of the players – which means they can rest and recover, and you suffer less injuries as a result – then surely that has to be a good thing right across the board.

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“The game we’re playing at the moment is different from the game we were playing six months ago because of the circumstances.

"In the times we live in, I think you have to be open-minded about certain rule changes that would be in favour of the players.

“This would favour the players. This would help them in what are really difficult circumstances.”

Jurgen Klopp, team boss at Critchley's former club Liverpool, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola have also been leading calls for additional substitutes this term in a bid to curb a spate of injuries.

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Under the new regulations, which come into force from this Thursdsay, teams in the Championship will be able to make five changes from a pool of nine substitutes, while in League One and League Two any five from seven will be permitted.

A statement from the EFL read: "Following consultation with clubs, the EFL board has agreed to increase the permitted number of substitutes to five in all Sky Bet EFL fixtures taking place from 12 noon on Friday 20 November for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.

"Regulation 33.4 has been amended to permit Championship clubs to name up to nine substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture.

"League One and League Two clubs can name up to seven substitutes in their match day squad, again with five permitted to take to the pitch."