McCall Targets Swift Climb

Rangers boss Stuart McCall expects the club to make an immediate push for Europe next season if they win promotion - but warned supporters they may have to wait to topple Celtic.

Interim Ibrox chairman Paul Murray announced earlier this week that the new regime in charge at the club had drawn up a seven-year plan to restore them to a position of strength at home and abroad.

Interim manager McCall - who hopes to land the job permanently by leading the club back to the Premiership - believes a Europa League slot should be their aim for next season.

But he warned wrestling the league title from Celtic and making a splash in the Champions League will take much longer to achieve.

McCall - whose side will give newly-crowned Championship winners Hearts a guard of honour before Sunday's Ibrox clash - said: It depends on what you mean when you say 'getting back to the top'. If you are talking about the halcyon days when we were challenging for the Champions League then it will be a long, long time."

But if we go up this season, then I see no reason to doubt we can't challenge for the European spots next season."

Hamilton came up and until they lost their three most influential players in January, they were third. Dundee also came up are near the top six."

People might say Rangers will take hidings next year but I don't see that being the case."

But as for how long it will take to challenge Celtic and Aberdeen, that would be open to question.''