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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been part of advanced negotiations with the Glasgow club for almost a week and currently seems poised to finalize a contract.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for more than four weeks since the previous manager departed, notching six wins in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the club to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he thought Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second spell at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to manage Celtic for the midweek league encounter against Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual who will be coming in," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I believed it was over on Sunday, but there remains paperwork yet to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It resembles a chapter of your life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Absolutely."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee and Hearts see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could potentially take Celtic to the top of the Premiership with a victory in his first match in charge.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It will be a challenging fixture of course and I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a side full of self-belief."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results during games over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat at the Danish side during European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to achieve their first away win in Europe since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, making it difficult. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We've given ourselves an opportunity, there are three games remaining to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think about things after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned much. I have had some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a new lease on life for me in several respects, working with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is okay at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional when the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."