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

Columbus Crew's head coach has been involved in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for almost seven days and now looks set to complete a deal.

O'Neill has been acting as temporary gaffer for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, achieving six wins out of seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of the club between 2000 and 2005, had already said he expected the match at Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

However, O'Neill stated he will oversee the team for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dundee prior to Nancy takes over.

"He's the person set to be arriving," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed it was over last weekend, but there remains paperwork still to be sorted. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a chapter of your life that makes you wonder 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat their opponents and the Jambos see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the table if they win in his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a nice one for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match of course and good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a side full of confidence."

The team's morale stems from O'Neill's success during games over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat at Midtjylland in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players were then able to achieve their first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they thrashed Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three games left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game helped restore belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration about whether he desires to carry on in management going forward.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a little think about things after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned much. I've got some excellent young coaches alongside me and it has served as a new lease on life personally in many ways, dealing with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely up to Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on things, that is acceptable. If not, that is perfectly fine at all. It becomes his team the moment he enters the job."

TalkSport host Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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