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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline for Sunday's Premiership clash versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for almost seven days and now seems poised to wrap up an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for more than a month ever since the previous manager departed, achieving six victories out of seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club between 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he thought the visit to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act in his return in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he is to lead the team in the midweek Premiership match against Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He is the person set to be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, but there remains formalities yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will assuredly be my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I've done it? Absolutely."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, Nancy could potentially take his new club to the top of the table if they win during his debut game in charge.

"It's a nice one for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match of course and good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a side with a bit of confidence."

That confidence stems from the interim manager's results in matches over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to Midtjylland in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss along with his squad then bounced back to secure 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 Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, with three matches left to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to consideration about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was a fear of failure – which is always a major worry. I once joked I could do this job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent young coaches working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration for me in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my opinion on things, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It's very much his team the minute he enters the breach."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Are you asking am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be silly."