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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Premiership clash versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for almost a week and currently appears ready to wrap up an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, securing six wins out of seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 and 2005, had already said he expected Sunday's visit to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act of his return in charge.

But, O'Neill stated he will lead Celtic in the midweek league encounter against Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He is the man who will be coming in," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I assumed it was over last weekend, however there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Most certainly."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee while Hearts overcome Killie in midweek, Nancy could lead Celtic to summit of the table if they win during his debut game in charge.

"That's a decent start for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally and I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a team with a bit of self-belief."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland during European competition.

However, the former Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a tough game – a few weeks earlier they mauled Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three matches left to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he desires to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I will have a little think about things following the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do this job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great coaching staff alongside me and it's been a new lease on life for me in several respects, interacting with young people every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his team the moment he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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