Pressley: Jordan is a big coup for the Magpies

The League One boss said the decision to not hand the 34-year-old centre-half a new contract was one of the hardest he has had to make during his management career.

But the ex-Scotland defender says that Jordan - who will join the Magpies when his Town contract runs out this summer - can give National League North side Chorley the platform to push on due to his experience and talent.

He said: “I’m delighted for him - Chorley are a really ambitous club. He was a player that we certainly considered keeping. I thought he performed really well in the team and it was a really difficult decision. He can read the game really well and he is highly experienced. He is a really good person to have around a club and in that league I think he can give them a great platform to push on.”

It is understood Town’s League One rivals Port Vale tired to snap-up Jordan and Pressley says the location of Matt Jansen’s side probably helped lure the former Manchester City man to the club: “Stephen said he had a couple of options. He is currently studying to be a physiotherapist and we were giving him every Thursday afternoon off to continue his studies so I think the location would have been a big factor.”

And Pressley also says that Jordan, who won promotion to the Premier League with Burnley in 2009, will be a great example to the younger players in Chorley’s squad.

He said: “He was one of the fittest players at the club. He was always an example to our younger players because whenever he was out of the team he always kept himself in top condition so that he was always ready to take his chance.

“He is a good role model and I wish him all the best.”

It is understood Chorley’s Adam Roscoe has turned down the chance to follow Mark Ross and Courtney Meppen-Walter to league rivals Stockport County.