Tuesday 28 February 2017 15:56, UK
Rangers defender Clint Hill claims a third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership would represent a step in the right direction for the club.
The Ibrox club went into the campaign confident of mounting a challenge to five-in-a-row Scottish champions Celtic, following their promotion from the Championship at the second attempt.
However, Rangers are 33 points adrift of the Hoops, who are on the verge of a sixth successive title, with Aberdeen in second place, nine points ahead.
Hill concedes the season has been tough for Rangers after winning three lower-league titles and the Petrofac Training Cup during the previous four seasons.
"With the current situation the club is in, and the situation it has been in for the last five years, then I think it would be [a step in the right direction], yes," said Hill.
"This club is built on success and winning things, and in any other circumstance being third is not a success.
"But at the moment, where the club is, and the difficulties they have been in, I think getting a European spot would be counted as a success.
"It was always European qualification that was one of the objectives this season.
"Unfortunately we have let Aberdeen slip away from us a little bit. It's still not over by any means. We still have to play them twice.
"But European qualification was one of the main aims and objectives this season."
