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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be on the Celtic touchline for Sunday's Premiership fixture against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost a week and now appears ready to complete a contract.

O'Neill has served as interim boss for over a month since the previous manager departed, achieving six wins out of seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead in the league table while also steering the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be the last game of his second stint at the helm.

But, O'Neill revealed he will lead the team in Wednesday's Premiership match with Dens Park prior to Nancy takes over.

"He is the person that will be arriving," stated O'Neill to TalkSport. "I thought it was over on Sunday, however there's some formalities yet to be completed. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a part in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Absolutely."

Should Celtic beat their opponents while the Jambos see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory in his first match as manager.

"It's a nice one for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a difficult game of course and good luck to him. At least he's getting a side full of confidence."

This self-belief stems from the positive run on the field in the last month or so, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side during Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad were then able to secure a first away win in Europe since 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We've given the team a chance, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he desires to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a little think about things following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt a fear of failure – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as many other managers."

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

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Aston Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely the decision of Nancy.

"That decision is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill stated. "He should be given free reign. If he wants my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the job."

Presenter Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday.

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