Workington Town have been handed a boost in their promotion bid after a proposal was tabled to extend the Championship to 14 teams next season.

As things stand with only four regular-season games remaining in League One, only two teams, the League One champions and the play-off winners, would be promoted to the Championship.

But the proposal discussed by the Championship and League One’s chairmen this week, would see a third side go up to the Championship this season. One team would be relegated from the Championship.

The Times & Star understands that the idea has now been put to the clubs and will be discussed, before a further meeting of the chairmen in the very near future.

But Town coach Leon Pryce insists it will change nothing as his side look to gain promotion.

“We’ll still be in the play-offs, so it’ll change nothing for us. It’ll be business as usual,” he said.

“But there needs to be transparency – we need to know the plans ahead. It’s no good putting three teams up and then, in three years time, going backwards.

“There’s a lot more to be looked at, including the funding of the Championship and League One, when a new Sky TV deal is made.”

Town are without a game this weekend, something that Pryce had banked on.

He added: “I built the lads up for the Bradford game, knowing that they would have a weekend off.

"It’s a time to have fun and have some family time.

“And it was perfect timing for us as we face leaders York next weekend.”

As League One stands, York and Bradford would then go up, leaving the League One teams placed third to sixth to battle it out for the one remaining promotion place.

Workington Town, who defied the odds to beat former World Champions and ex-Super League club Bradford Bulls on Sunday, are currently third.

Town’s 24-18 victory at Odsal knocked the Bulls off top spot, York taking over courtesy of a 48-6 victory against Hunslet.

If the decision on the revamp was voted in, seventh-placed Whitehaven would be given hope of making the play-offs.

The changes would mean that York would need just one more win from their final four games to be assured of Championship rugby next season, while Bradford, in second place and six points clear of Workington, given their superior points-scored differential, would also need just one more win.

Workington, due to their points-scored differential, would be almost certain of a play-off place, with the final three play-off places going to three of four teams, Doncaster, Oldham, Hunslet or Whitehaven.

There is only one game this weekend, London Skolars hosting Keighley Cougars in a catch-up game, due to the Challenge Cup Final between Warrington and Catalans Dragons at Wembley tomorrow.