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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian.

Columbus Crew's manager has been involved in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for almost seven days and currently seems poised to finalize a deal.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for more than four weeks since the previous manager resigned, achieving six wins in seven games, reducing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the team to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he expected the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his return at the helm.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he will oversee the team for the midweek league encounter with Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the person set to be coming in," O'Neill told the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, but there remains paperwork yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been unreal," he added. "It resembles a chapter in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat Dundee and the Jambos see off Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership if they win in his debut game in charge.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a difficult game naturally and good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a side with some confidence."

That confidence stems from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 defeat at the Danish side during European competition.

However, the former Irish national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to achieve their first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We've given the team a chance, with three matches left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game 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 prompted consideration about whether he desires to carry on managing in the future.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a wee think about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was the fear of failing – which is always a major worry. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some great coaching staff alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. If he wants my advice on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his squad the minute he steps into the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be stupid."