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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly seven days and now seems poised to complete a deal.

O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for more than a month since the previous manager departed, securing six wins in seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead of the league table and guiding the team to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought the match at Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act of his second spell at the helm.

However, O'Neill revealed he is to lead Celtic in Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Nancy takes over.

"He's the individual set to be coming in," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, but there remains paperwork still to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be my last match."

A Bizarre Experience

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It's like a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee and the Jambos overcome Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory during his opening fixture in charge.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a team full of self-belief."

The team's morale stems from O'Neill's success on the field over the past five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side during European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players were then able to secure a first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a few weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We have given the team a chance, with three games remaining to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

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

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect about things after Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – that is always a big concern. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as many other managers."

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

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss stated this is completely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my advice on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the job."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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