The former Macclesfield player spent four years at Northwich, playing for the England Game XI in his time at Victoria Stadium.
But he picked up an unwanted record during his Macclesfield debut against Darlington when he was booked after 32 seconds before being sent off.
Carr paid tribute to McIlroy's coaching skills and feels he is the man to develop his own game.
"I only scored two last year but in the two years before that scored 29 goals so I am hoping to recapture that type of form as well.''