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As stated by caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

The head coach has been engaged in serious talks with the Parkhead side for nearly a week and currently looks set to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as temporary gaffer for over four weeks since the previous manager resigned, notching six wins out of seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the club to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had already said he expected the match at Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

However, O'Neill revealed he will oversee Celtic in the midweek Premiership match against Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the person who will be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I believed it was over last weekend, however there's some formalities yet to be completed. The Dundee game will definitely be my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It feels like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Absolutely."

Should Celtic defeat their opponents while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could guide his new club to summit of the Premiership with a victory in his first match as manager.

"That's a decent start for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally and good luck to him. At least he inherits a side with a bit of confidence."

This self-belief is a result of O'Neill's success during games over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland during Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad were then able to claim their first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was excellent. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games left to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think about things after Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was the fear of failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some great young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, interacting with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the ex- Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my input on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the role."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."