Graeme Lee can remember the exact moment when he realised that Notts County were no longer an ordinary club.

The former City skipper was having lunch after a pre-season training session when he glanced across at the man sat at the next table. There was Sven-Goran Eriksson nodding in his direction.

“That’s when it really sunk in,” he said. “Seeing Sven eating his dinner just along from me.

“I knew when I first came to Notts County that they were ambitious and they were talking about doing big things. That was a big factor as to why I wanted to go. But there were no names dropped into the conversation. They just said that things were changing.

“So seeing an England manager sat there after training brought it home just how much is happening.”

Director of football Eriksson is a regular at County training sessions, but just as an observer. His former England assistant Tord Grip is also there but boss Ian McParland still holds sway over the squad.

Lee added: “Sven comes down to watch us most days and has a little chat every now and then. But his first talk with us was to say that the manager is still the boss.

“He’s just here to help as an advisor and they are working together. Sven is doing a lot of work behind the scenes, trying to bring the club forward with things like a new training ground and recommending players.

“But the management make sure we just concentrate on the football side of things. Everything going on elsewhere is down to other people – all the lads watch the telly like everyone else to find out.

“But sometimes it’s easy to forget that it’s your club that they are talking about!”

Sven’s arrival has guaranteed maximum publicity, and with Lee among nine summer signings, County’s League Two title odds have been slashed from 33-1 to 4-1 ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Bantams. So the pressure is heaped on McParland and his team.

Lee is no stranger to big expectations after his ill-fated season at Valley Parade. He will also be well aware of the pitfalls from being seen as the team to be shot at after City’s spectacular slump out of the promotion reckoning.

“Pressure comes with all the publicity, and that’s where we come in as players,” said Lee, who played 48 games for Stuart McCall’s side.

“It’s going to be as hard as ever because there are some quality teams in this league and the focus will be on us to do well.

“I know that Bradford are going to be one of our toughest games. I know most of the lads and they’ve got a good team again. And Thorney (Peter Thorne) has got a great goal record in these games so it will be my job to stop him.

“But I’m looking forward to it.

Pre-season has been hard but very good and now it’s down to what we can do.”