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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of serious talks with the Parkhead side for almost a week and now seems poised to complete a contract.

Martin O'Neill has served as caretaker manager for over four weeks ever since the previous manager stepped down, achieving six victories out of seven games, reducing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he expected Sunday's visit to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his second spell in charge.

But, O'Neill stated he is to manage the team for the midweek Premiership match with Dundee before Nancy takes over.

"He's the person who will be arriving," O'Neill told the radio station. "I thought it was over last weekend, however there's some formalities yet to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If the Hoops beat Dundee and Hearts defeat Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory during his debut game as manager.

"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 well. At the very least he inherits a team full of self-belief."

This self-belief comes from O'Neill's success in matches over the past month or so, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Republic of Ireland national team boss and his players were then able to achieve a first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks before they mauled Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and win on their patch was fantastic. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches remaining to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he desires to continue in management going forward.

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

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I've learned much. I have had some great coaching staff working with me and it has served as a new lease on life for me in many ways, dealing with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. If he wants my input on things, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is okay either. It becomes his team the minute he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

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