NEWPORT County AFC captain Darren Jones has become the 14th player to leave the club this week after rejecting the offer of a new contract at Rodney Parade and rejoining Forest Green Rovers.

The South Wales Argus player of the year is understood to have been offered a new deal on reduced terms by new Exiles boss Terry Butcher on Tuesday.

On Thursday afternoon he informed Butcher of his decision to move on before completing a medical at the New Lawn on Friday morning.

And, despite a last-minute improved offer by County, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Conference club and the news was confirmed on Friday afternoon.

The 31-year-old says he was attracted by the ambition shown by Forest Green but he admits it was a tough decision to leave his hometown club for a second time, having previously departed in 2005.

“It is a club with very big ambitions,” he said of his new employers. “I went up there the other day and spoke to the manager.

“He’s told me his plans and I want to get promoted with them next season.

“They made the play-offs this season and I think, with a few additions to the squad, it is definitely achievable.

“And I just don’t think that’s achievable with Newport next season, sadly.

“It will be extremely difficult to bring 15 new players in and be expected to work miracles with a budget cut.

“I don’t know where you’re going to get 15 lads that are as good as the ones they had.

“But if that’s the way the club want to go then all the best to them. I wish them all the best.”

Jones will link up with another former County captain at Rovers in David Pipe.

“I’ve known him for a long time and he’s just had nothing but good words about the club,” added Jones, who previously played for Rovers between 2006 and 2009.

“It is run very well and financially the club is safe. I just felt it was the right decision for me and for my family. They come first and I had to leave.

“I said in the middle of the season that I wanted to finish my career off here but that’s not to be and it’s pretty sad because I really did want to stay.

"It's sad that the club has had to cut wages and get rid of players," he added. "In the end they offered me the same as I was on last season but it was too late."

Midfielder Adam Chapman, who also rejected a new contract to stay at County, has also returned to a former club this week.

The 25-year-old has signed for Mansfield Town where he was on loan during their Conference-winning season in 2012/13, scoring four goals in 11 appearances.

“It feels brilliant to be back,” said Chapman. "I've turned down more money from other clubs to come here; that's how passionate I am to be here.

“I hoped I could stay here last time, but didn't get the chance.

"I've known the manager for quite a long period of time.

"He has shown a massive interest in getting me here.

"The vision he sold me, and how he wants to play football, really excites me."

When he signed for County from Oxford United back in June 2013, after a loan spell at Spytty Park the year before, Chapman said then manager Justin Edinburgh had persuaded him to reject a return to Mansfield.

“I picked Newport over Mansfield because of the manager, he was a massive part of it,” he told the Argus. “I loved my time here before and would have happily stayed longer; it was just that Oxford called me back.”