Carbone played part in Bradford City new boy Poleon's progress

The Italian was arguably the most gifted player to don the claret and amber. But those crippling wages, born of the infamous “six weeks of madness”, accelerated the club to their knees in the post-Premier League financial meltdown.

City now are a completely different animal to the one that chased the dream of the high life under Geoffrey Richmond.

New faces, a new ethos and new hope signal the start of another pre-season as they bid to keep pushing towards those lofty heights of years gone by.

But one of the latest captures has arrived with a nod to that top-flight era.

Striker Dominic Poleon crossed paths with Carbone during his time with first club Leeds.

The Italian coached for a short while at Elland Road and Poleon enjoyed the opportunity to work with him.

He said: “Benito Carbone took the under-23s and occasionally when I played for them or would need to top up some minutes, I’d train with him.

“He was a great player and still had a bit. He could show some of the young lads up!

“But he was a very good man and the lads really liked him. The under-23s rarely lost and their whole mentality changed.”

Poleon is relishing the prospect of adapting to the change of mindset that accompanies a move to one of the fancied sides in League One.

After a year at Wimbledon, where the goal was about survival after winning promotion, he has swapped for the spotlight of a club looking to improve on their Wembley near-miss.

But four years in the system at Leeds have hardened him to the expectations associated with a “big club” mentality.

Poleon said: “That’s the pressure that the club are under. It’s what the fans expect.

“But that’s a good pressure as a player. You want to win things and be at the top of the table challenging.

“I was fortunate enough to play in front of the Leeds crowd. They come in numbers and are pretty demanding, to say the least!

“Then I went to Oldham and Wimbledon, where it was a different set-up.

“As a player, this is what you thrive off. Some people might find it easier to play in front of a smaller crowd but this is what I want.

“It’s been a while since I’ve played in front of so many fans but it’s something I’ll really look forward to. You’ve just got to look at last season and how far the boys have come.”

Poleon had not planned to leave Wimbledon midway through a two-year contract after a campaign that saw him notch 13 goals.

But once Bradford’s interest became apparent, it was all systems go for the 23-year-old. He said: “It was a surprise at the time but a nice surprise.

“Bradford are a big club and obviously I’ve played in the same league, so I knew what they were doing. My first thought was ‘wow, it’s great that they are interested in me’.

“Once I was aware that something was going to happen, I couldn’t wait.

“I wasn’t really expecting a move. My plans were to stay at Wimbledon.

“But when opportunities come up in your football career, you can’t let them pass you by. So I grabbed this chance with both hands.

“There were a few other clubs but I felt this was the one for me.

“I’d started last season well and had 12 goals by the middle of December.

“Then, for whatever reason, it fizzled out and I didn’t end up playing as much in the second half of the season.

“I want to come here, play, show my qualities and hopefully help the team improve so we can go one better.”

But the youthful feel of his new dressing room will take some getting used to after coming from a club which leaned heavily on the older heads.

Poleon laughed: “I found myself in the changing room looking round first day and thinking ‘I’m one of the old boys’.

“At Wimbledon, I was often the youngest in the 11 but now I’m up there with the senior lads.

“But it’s good. The club want to progress with good, young players and everyone’s got to buy into it.

“We’ve just got to believe in our squad and what the manager and coaches are doing.

“Hopefully our young lads and the new signings will relish the challenge.”