PORT Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr will leave the club to take up a senior coaching role at SANFL club North Adelaide for season 2016. 

His departure opens the door for Essendon assistant Nathan Bassett to return to Adelaide. Bassett is hotly tipped to join the Power after two seasons as an assistant with the Bombers.

Carr has been a midfield assistant at Alberton for the past four seasons, having entered the coaching ranks after retiring as a player in 2010.

Known as a tough-as-nails midfielder during his heyday, Carr was an integral member of Port's 2004 premiership team before crossing to Fremantle to play alongside brother Matthew.

He returned ahead of the 2009 season to play out his career, finishing with 207 senior games to his name.

Carr will join the Roosters after one of the worst seasons in the club's history.

They won a single game in 2015 to claim the wooden spoon just three years after making the SANFL grand final under now-Sydney Swans assistant Josh Francou.