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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be on the Celtic touchline for this weekend's Scottish Premiership match against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of detailed discussions with Parkhead side for nearly a week and now seems poised to wrap up a deal.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for over four weeks ever since the previous manager departed, achieving six victories out of seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he believed Sunday's match at Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game in his second stint at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill stated he will manage the team in Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He is the person set to be arriving," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed it was over last weekend, but there remains paperwork still to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy that I've done it? Without a doubt."

If Celtic defeat their opponents and the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could potentially take his new club to the top of the table if they win in his first match as manager.

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

That confidence comes from the interim manager's results during games in the last five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad were then able to secure a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To go to De Kuip and win on their patch was terrific. We've given the team a chance, there are three games remaining to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on in management going forward.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I will have a wee think about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was a fear of failure – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as many other managers."

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

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine at all. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

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