Directorate Change

UK Coal PLC
22 September 2003


                                                               22 September 2003



                                  UK COAL PLC
                 Appointment of two new non-executive directors
                     Robert Shrager to step down at AGM 2004



The Board of UK COAL PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter
Hazell and Mr Jim Murray as non-executive directors of the Company from 22
September 2003. Mr Hazell will succeed Mr Robert Shrager as Chairman of the
Audit Committee following the Company's Annual General Meeting in April 2004. Mr
Shrager will retire from the Board at that time after ten years service.


Peter Hazell, 55, is Chairman of Argent Group, the property developers and is a
member of the Competition Commission. He was previously UK Managing Partner of
PricewaterhouseCoopers and spent his early career at Coopers & Lybrand and
Deloitte Haskins & Sells.


Jim Murray, 57 is a non executive director of Wolseley plc, and Chairman of its
Audit Committee. He previously held a number of positions at Land Securities plc
culminating as Finance Director between 1991 and 2001.


David Jones, Chairman of UK COAL PLC, commenting on the appointment said:


'I am delighted to welcome two such talented people to the board of UK Coal.
They have huge experience of not only the financial and regulatory aspects of a
public company but also property development which is a growing area of the
business.


'Robert has served UK Coal well over the last ten years and on behalf of the
company and our shareholders I would like to thank him for his major
contribution to the Company.'


There are no details to be disclosed under paragraph 6.F.2 (b) to (g) of the
Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.



For further information please contact:

Liz Morley/Ken Cronin                       [phone]
Gavin Anderson & Company










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