The Professional Footballers' Association has arranged and helped to finance a deal which should see the Italian striker sign for Como, who have been promoted to Serie A.

And, in a double boost for the Valley Parade club, they are expected to be given the go-ahead to continue by a meeting of their creditors on Thursday.

Bradford's administrators said on Tuesday they remained hopeful the club's creditors would accept their offer and the Bantams could avoid going bust in the wake of Thursday's crisis meeting.

The First Division club, whose senior players pulled out of Wednesday's friendly at Hull over a pay dispute brought about by the crisis, meet the creditors knowing that if they reject the creditors' voluntary agreement (CVA), the club will close.

But the club are confident they will come through the meeting, with the PFA-brokered deal with Carbone playing a big part in securing their survival.

Carbone's contract has been cancelled by mutual consent and the PFA has negotiated a settlement and also played an integral role in structuring and financing the club's CVA.

Bradford are still in administration but the fact that Carbone will soon be off the wage bill will enable them to offer contracts to 19 players who would otherwise have been released.

Mick McGuire, deputy chief executive of the PFA, said: "Benito's co-operation has enabled the club to move forward and we are all very optimistic for its survival.

"If, as we hope, the whole situation is resolved tomorrow, the club will be able to offer contracts for next season to those other 19 players the administrators attempted to dismiss who have not already found alternative employment.

"The PFA are delighted that the situation looks like being resolved and are happy to have helped."

Carbone has signed a two-year contract with the Italian club.

His �40,000-a-week wages were one of the greatest threats to the continuing existence of the Yorkshire club.