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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in serious talks with the Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently seems poised to finalize an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has served as caretaker manager for over a month ever since the previous manager departed, securing six victories in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the league table while also steering the team to Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club between 2000 to 2005, had already said he believed the trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his return at the helm.

However, O'Neill stated he will lead the team in the midweek Premiership match against Dundee prior to Nancy takes over.

"He's the individual that will be taking over," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork still to be sorted. Wednesday will assuredly be my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I delighted to have taken it on? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat Dundee and Hearts overcome Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could lead Celtic to the top of the table if they win during his first match as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a tough match of course but good luck to him. At the very least he takes over a side with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale stems from the positive run during games in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss and his players were then able to secure their first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his reflections during his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration on if he desires to continue managing going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I will have a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do the job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent young coaches alongside me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in several respects, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. Should he desire my input on things, that is acceptable. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the breach."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."