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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently looks set to wrap up a contract.

O'Neill has served as interim boss for over four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, notching six victories out of seven matches, reducing the lead at the top in the Scottish Premiership while also steering the club to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's trip to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be his final act in his second spell in charge.

But, O'Neill stated he will oversee Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the individual who will be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, but there remains paperwork yet to be sorted. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It's been unreal," he added. "It feels like a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat Dundee while the Jambos defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a decent start for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a tough match of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a side full of confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the positive run in matches over the past five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side during European competition.

However, the former Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad then bounced back to secure their first away win on the continent since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games remaining to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections on his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to consideration about whether he would like to continue in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I will have a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as many other managers."

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

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my input on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the minute he steps into the job."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional when the final whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Please don't be ridiculous."