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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Premiership clash versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been engaged in serious talks with Parkhead side for nearly a week and now seems poised to wrap up a contract.

O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for over a month ever since the previous manager stepped down, securing six wins out of seven matches, reducing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of the club between 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he expected the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act of his second spell at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to manage Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He's the man who will be taking over," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I thought my time was up last weekend, but there's some formalities still to be sorted. The Dundee game is certainly my last match."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Most certainly."

Should Celtic defeat their opponents while the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win in his first match as manager.

"It's a decent start for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At least he takes over a team with a bit of confidence."

This self-belief comes from O'Neill's success in matches over the past month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss at Midtjylland in the European competition.

However, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to claim a first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given the team an opportunity, with three matches left to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his thoughts on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts on if he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I'll take a moment to reflect on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was apprehension about failing – which is always a big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great young coaches alongside me and it has served as a refresh personally in many ways, interacting with young players daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. Should he desire my opinion on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his team the minute he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be stupid."