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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Scottish Premiership clash against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been part of detailed discussions with the Glasgow club for nearly a week and currently appears ready to wrap up a deal.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, securing six victories out of seven matches, cutting into the lead at the top of the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had already said he believed Sunday's match at Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act of his return in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he will lead Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter with Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the person that will be coming in," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I assumed it was over on Sunday, however there's some formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday will definitely be my last match."

An Unusual Period

"It's been unreal," he added. "It's like a chapter of your life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Without a doubt."

If Celtic defeat Dundee and Hearts defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could guide his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win during his first match as manager.

"It's a decent start for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a challenging fixture naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a team with a bit of self-belief."

That confidence is a result of the positive run on the field in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side during Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players were then able to claim a first away win in Europe since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We have given the team an opportunity, with three matches left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts about whether he desires to carry on in management in the future.

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

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was the fear of failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches alongside me and it's been a new lease on life for me in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill stated. "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 either. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the role."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional when the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Are you asking if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be silly."