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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic during Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been part of serious talks with the Glasgow club for nearly a week and now appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has served as interim boss for more than a month since the previous manager resigned, securing six victories in seven matches, narrowing Hearts' lead in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club from 2000 to 2005, had already said he thought the visit to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his return in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he is to oversee Celtic in Wednesday's Premiership match against Dundee prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the man who will be taking over," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there remains formalities yet to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my last match."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been unreal," he added. "It resembles a part of your life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead Celtic to the top of the table if they win during his first match as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course but good luck to him. At least he inherits a team with some self-belief."

That confidence comes from 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 Europa League.

However, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad were then able to claim their first away win in Europe since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to De Kuip and win away from home was terrific. We have given the team a chance, with three games left to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam was key for belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted thoughts about whether he desires to carry on in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he said. "I'll take a wee think on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast I could do this job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some great young coaches alongside me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in several respects, interacting with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss stated this is completely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given full autonomy. If he wants my input on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that's not a problem either. It becomes his squad the moment he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."