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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be in the Celtic dugout during this weekend's Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of serious talks with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently seems poised to wrap up an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for more than four weeks ever since the previous manager stepped down, securing six wins in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead in the league table while also steering the club to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he believed the match at Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be the last game in his second stint in charge.

However, the interim boss disclosed he will lead Celtic in the midweek league encounter against Dundee before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the person who will be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork still to be completed. The Dundee game will definitely be my last match."

An Unusual Period

"It's been surreal," he added. "It's like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Absolutely."

If Celtic beat their opponents and Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win during his debut game as manager.

"It's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a difficult game of course and good luck to him. At least he takes over a side with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale comes from the interim manager's results on the field in the last month or so, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one loss at the Danish side during European competition.

However, the former Republic of Ireland manager and his players were then able to claim their first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We have given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I've got some excellent young coaches alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in many ways, dealing with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss says that is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He should be allowed his own space. If he wants my advice on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem either. It's very much his squad the moment he steps into the role."

Presenter Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday.

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