Aberdeen vice-chairman Dave Cormack believes getting into the Europa League group stages is the club’s next target.
European qualification has not yet been secured but the Dons have made the preliminary round of the competition for the last five years.
Level on points with Kilmarnock in third, Aberdeen have a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on Sunday and would guarantee European qualification should they win the tournament.
Cormack said: “Getting to a cup final, you’re definitely talking the opportunity to generate more income, not just for the final itself and broadcasting, but shirts and other things people do at the club. Europe is a mixed bag; if you get Burnley, it’s much more of an earner.
“If you’ve got Kazakhstan and need a jet to get you back because you’ve got a game at the Sunday, it can be a mixed bag. You could lose money but that being said, it’s really important to get to Europe. We want to build on where we are and we’d love to get to the group stages. That’s our goal. That’s why it’s important for the club.
“It’s fantastic that we’re there and we did it the hard way. It was tough against Rangers. As the game wasn’t being shown live anywhere – my son was texting me back and forth and told me it was 1-0 – ‘to who?!’
“All we can ask is for the team to make their best endeavours with it. This is a semi-final and we’re still punching up there in the league. Hearts and Hibs are rejuvenated having been in other divisions.
“It would be fantastic for the city to get to another final.”
This season saw Aberdeen draw Burnley in the Europa League and sell out Pittodrie for the first leg. They took a buoyant travelling support to Turf Moor in the second leg, where they lost 3-1 after extra-time.
Cormack has previously backed the advent of another European competition for those with a turnover of under £20 million, with Europa League 2, a third-tier tournament, proposed for 2021.
Cormack said: “I grew up in the days of us playing Bayern Munich, Gladbach and Real Madrid and we still fill the stadium on European nights, even for teams you’ve never heard of. The atmosphere against Burnley was incredible – I’ve been going to Pittodrie for 50 years and that’s up there in the top five.
“It shows you there’s an appetite for other European competitions, which is important for Aberdeen and other Scottish clubs to be part of.”