Director retirement

UK Coal PLC
23 October 2003





                               Director Retirement



UK Coal announced today that Mr Mel Garness, Commercial Director and Company
Secretary has confirmed to the Company that he wishes to retire from the Board
in October 2004. In line with his contract he has given the Company twelve
months notice.


Mel (58) has been with UK Coal for 19 years and was promoted to the board in
1994 with responsibility for the Company's commercial and administrative
functions. In 2001 following the promotion of Gordon McPhie to Chief Executive
he also took on responsibility for finance matters.


Paying tribute to Mel, Gordon McPhie commented, 'Mel's contribution to UK Coal
has been outstanding especially through a period of great change. I wish him
well for the future.'


UK Coal will announce a replacement for Mel Garness in due course.







For further information:

Gavin Anderson & Company                           020 7554 1400
Liz Morley
Ken Cronin







                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange