European players are to discuss the Mark James controversy at a meeting at Loch Lomond next Tuesday. But while the Ryder Cup committee are aware of this development, they have no plans to bring forward their next meeting, which is scheduled for August 1st.

Either way, Nick Faldo, who is the focus of considerable criticism from James in the book Into the Bear Pit, clearly welcomes the Loch Lomond move.

"I am pleased that there is to be a players' meet," he said yesterday. "Jean Van de Velde has made it public, so I am not breaking any secrets when I say that he would like him (James) removed. That's good."

Faldo added: "I think I've got a large degree of support and I have even more media support."

During the recent Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth, Paul McGinley publicly deplored the criticism of Faldo in James' book on last year's Ryder Cup at Brookline. But Van de Velde yesterday denied he was calling for James to be removed as vice-captain to Sam Torrance for next year's staging at the Belfry.

"I didn't say I wanted Jesse (James) removed or that a continental has to be a replacement for him or Woosie or Mr X or Mr Y," said the Frenchman. "But why would you announce your vice captain a year-and-a-half before it (the Ryder Cup) starts?"

Regarding the possibility of James being removed, Van de Velde added pointedly: "I think Jesse is a big enough guy to know what he has to do."

He went on: "After what he said and what has happened, can he still have the trust of the guys who will play on the team? It's up to him and Sam (Torrance) to take the decision. It's not up to me."

Van de Velde was one of three players - with Andrew Coltart and Jarmo Sandelin - omitted by James until Sunday's singles at Brookline. And in the aftermath of Europe's defeat, he was quite vocal in his criticism of that particular decision.

Meanwhile, in the course of the recently-published book, James accuses Faldo of attempting to undermine Europe's chances of retaining the trophy last year and suggests that Britain's most successful golfer might never become captain himself, because of his poor relationship with other players.

He also wrote that a good-luck letter from Faldo to the team on the eve of the match was consigned to a dustbin and not pinned on a noticeboard with similar messages.

"I think the (PGA European) Tour are quietly steaming," added Faldo. "They need to resolve it now. It has gone on long enough. We can all get on with playing golf again."

Faldo had earlier said to the London Times: "It has to be discussed now by the Ryder Cup committee, even if what has happened has not been a disciplinary issue. He (James) is a captain who has gone too far.

"Tony (Jacklin) did a book and Bernard (Gallacher) did one too. There was never a problem. Now there is a problem. There have to be some guidelines for the future."

Faldo, who made a record 11 successive Ryder Cup appearances, concluded: "The players need to have confidence that the captain is not going to squeal on them as to what goes on in the team room."