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Per the words of caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Scottish Premiership fixture against Hearts.

The manager has been part of advanced negotiations with the Glasgow club for almost a week and currently seems poised to wrap up an agreement.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for more than a month ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, securing six wins in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the club to a League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club from 2000 to 2005, had already said he believed the match at Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his second stint in charge.

However, the interim boss disclosed he will oversee Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter against Dundee before Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the person set to be coming in," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there's some paperwork yet to be completed. Wednesday will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

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

If Celtic defeat Dundee and the Jambos overcome Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could lead Celtic to the top of the table with a victory in his debut game in charge.

"It's a decent start for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A good way to start. It is going to be a difficult game of course and I wish him well. At the very least he's getting a side with some self-belief."

That confidence is a result of the interim manager's results during games in the last month or so, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 loss at the Danish side in the European competition.

However, the former Irish manager and his players then bounced back to achieve a first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill said. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a couple of weeks before they mauled Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We have given the team a chance, there are three matches left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of 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 would like to carry on in management going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I'll take a little think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some great coaching staff working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, working with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester, Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my opinion on things, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his squad the moment he enters the breach."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

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