Portadown sign Championship's top goalscorer in bid to strengthen Premiership promotion charge

The 28-year-old only made a switch to Newington from Premier Intermediate League outfit Ballymacash Rangers this summer, but his return of 14 league goals in 18 matches attracted interest and Portadown have won the race for his signature.

Barr kicked off the 2023/24 season by netting against Ards and followed it up with a hat-trick in Newington’s 3-1 August victory over current high-flyers Institute as they topped the table in the campaign’s early stages.

His arrival at Shamrock Park adds further firepower to a squad that already includes the likes of Paul McElroy, who is currently recovering from injury, Coleraine loanee Eamon Ffye (seven league goals) and their current top scorer Ryan Mayse.

"We’re obviously delighted to get Zach on board, especially as he had a couple of offers from Premiership clubs but decided Portadown was the place for him,” said manager Niall Currie. “With the situation we currently find ourselves in we’ve been desperate to find a focal point striker, losing Paul McElroy especially means we’ve been left very short and have had to players out of position so Zach will come in as that focal point up front that we’ve been desperately searching for.

“He’s the leading scorer in the Championship and is in fantastic form so we hope he embraces the big challenge he faces here and continues to top the goal scoring charts and add to that total while in a Portadown shirt.”

On the move, Barr said: “I’m looking forward to getting started. Portadown is a massive club and I know the expectation that’s required. There’s a massive push now for the next 3/4 months and I hope to continue scoring goals to assist with that push.”

Currie’s men sit fourth in the Championship table behind Dundela, Institute and Bangor having played one game less than the trio after Saturday’s match against Newington was called off due to an unplayable pitch.