He spent the second half of the 2019–20 season on loan at former club Barrow, which would end in them winning promotion as champions of the National League.

He was loaned to Harrogate Town the following season and played in the 2020 FA Trophy final victory over Concord Rangers.

[12] He was initially dropped to the bench by new permanent manager Paul Murray, who lasted six weeks in the role, before Jones established himself in defence following the appointment of Ronnie Moore in December.

[22] Jones featured in three league games at the Gateshead International Stadium, but "Tynesiders" boss Neil Aspin said that "if Grimsby decide to loan him out again then he will be somebody we consider".

[23] Jones instead joined National League North leaders AFC Fylde on a one-month loan, starting on 10 February 2017.

[16] It proved to be a difficult campaign however, with Cox leaving the club in August, and his replacement – Micky Moore – was sacked after three months despite being publicly backed in the media by Jones.

[32] Jones missed a month of action with a knee injury, but the North-West Evening Mail reported that he had impressed new manager Adrian Pennock with his work rate on the sidelines.

[35] However, he struggled to break into Graham Alexander's first-team plans, with Ibou Touray preferred at left-back, and was limited to three league games.

[39] He was limited to four appearances during his second spell at Holker Street however, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England the season was curtailed on 16 March, and Barrow were promoted as league winners on a points-per-game basis.

[43] He scored his first Football League goal on 13 April, in a 2–2 draw with Leyton Orient at Wetherby Road, and was praised by manager Simon Weaver after the game.

[45] Jones did not play a first-team game for Salford during the 2020–21 season and left Moor Lane after not being offered a new contract by new manager Gary Bowyer.

[46] On 10 June 2021, he reached an agreement to join League Two club Port Vale on a two-year contract, with the manager Darrell Clarke commenting that "I've always liked Dan to be honest ... he'll give us options in a number of positions defensively".

[49][50] He was then sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in training and featured for just 27 minutes in the second half of the campaign as the team secured promotion out of the play-offs.

[58] Jones signed a new two-year deal in May 2023; David Flitcroft, the club's director of football, said that "all his stats and data are on an upward trajectory... he is one of the top performers physically".