Directorate Change

UK Coal PLC
01 October 2004

1st October 2004

                                   UK COAL plc

                                 Board Changes

UK COAL plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Garold (Gerry) Spindler as
Chief Executive. Gerry, who is currently a non-executive director of the
Company, will take up this appointment in the next few weeks following
relocation to the UK from the United States where he is currently living. In the
meantime the Chairman, David Jones, will be Acting Chief Executive, and Gerry
will be closely involved in the business in his present role as a non-executive
director.

The current Chief Executive, Gordon McPhie, has resigned as a director and is
leaving the Group today to pursue a number of other interests.

Current trading continues to be in line with the expectations set out in the
Company's interim results, released on 8 September 2004.

Commenting on the Board changes the Chairman, David Jones, said:
'I am delighted to welcome an individual of Gerry's calibre and experience to
lead our executive team. His wide business experience and extensive mining
background will enable him to drive the business forward and deliver our
strategic objectives, which remain unchanged. His extensive knowledge of the
group and its people, as a result of his non-executive directorship held since
October 2001, is an added benefit. He is outstandingly well qualified to achieve
the successful implementation of the Company's strategy. The appointment follows
a rigorous selection procedure involving external consultants.

I look forward to working with Gerry to deliver the Company's full potential.

I would like to thank Gordon for his contribution to the strategic positioning
of the Company. We wish him every success for the future.'

For Further Information:

UK COAL PLC

Financial
Gavin Anderson & Company                          020 7554 1400
Liz Morley                                        07798683108
Ken Cronin                                        07887591499

Operational
Stuart Oliver                                     01525 381 759



Notes to Editors

1.     UK COAL is Britain's biggest producer of coal and a company with
substantial land and property interests.

Employing 6,000 people, the Group has 15 deep and surface mine sites in the UK,
which, in 2003, produced nearly 18 million tonnes of coal.

With almost 2,000 individual property units and over 50,000 acres under
management, UK COAL's property interests were valued in 2002 at £174 million.

The strategy of the Company is to:

• match production with sales;
• maintain investment at ongoing operations;
• optimise income from the property portfolio, and
• maximise the return of cash to shareholders.

2.     Garold (Gerry) Spindler has a BSC and Masters in Mining & Engineering and
an MBA from Stanford University.

He is a US citizen aged 56 and began his career in mining at Consolidation Coal,
one of America's largest coal mining companies based in Pittsburgh as a section
foreman. He held various positions throughout the company leaving in 1984 as
Vice President of Non-Mining operations. Following this he became President &
Chief Executive Officer at Pittston Mineral Group, which produced 20 to 30m
tonnes of coal per year.

In 1995 he joined Cyprus Amax Coal Company the second largest coal business in
the US producing 70 to 90m tonnes of coal per annum as President. His main
objectives were the creation of a new strategy and the improvement of the
operating performance of the group.



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