DAVID James' future with Aston Villa could be in doubt after he discovered chairman Doug Ellis has lined up Peter Bonetti to replace Paul Barron as the club's goalkeeping coach.

James has constantly acknowledged the influence of Barron in helping to revive his career to the extent that he is now a regular member of the England squad.

Now the former Liverpool goalkeeper is seething after hearing that Ellis wants to replace Barron with Bonetti.

Ellis has held talks with former Chelsea star Bonetti while the duo were in La Manga this week with England.

Ellis is part of the Football Association's International Committee delegation, while Bonetti has been coaching the England Under-21 goalkeepers ahead of their European Championship qualifier with Greece on Tuesday.

It is understood that the deal is tied up to such an extent that Bonetti has introduced himself already to James as Villa's new goalkeeping coach.

But James is fuming at what appears to be the axing of Barron, who has been linked with a move, along with Villa's first team coach Steve Harrison, to Middlesbrough.

Barron is completely in the dark about the moves made in Spain by Ellis and he has made no commitment to Middlesbrough, who still have to formally unveil Steve McClaren as their new coach.

James said on Thursday: "It would be a big blow to Villa to lose Paul Barron and Steve Harrison and I urge the club to do everything in their power to persuade them to stay.

"Paul Barron is a superb coach and rightly regarded as one of the best in the business."