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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been involved in serious talks with the Glasgow club for almost seven days and now seems poised to wrap up a contract.

O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers departed, securing six wins in seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the team to a League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who once coached Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he believed the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act in his return in charge.

But, O'Neill revealed he is to manage the team in Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the person who will be arriving," O'Neill told the radio station. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, but there remains formalities yet to be completed. Wednesday will definitely be my last match."

A Surreal Spell

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

Should Celtic defeat Dundee while the Jambos defeat Killie on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to summit of the table if they win during his opening fixture in charge.

"That's a nice one for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match naturally and good luck to him. At least he inherits a team with a bit of self-belief."

The team's morale comes from the positive run on the field over the past month or so, a period where he lost only once – a three-one loss at the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players were then able to secure a first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches left to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his time as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts about whether he desires to carry on in management in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as many other managers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great coaching staff working with me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in many ways, working with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my advice on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the minute he steps into the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional once the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be ridiculous."