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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been involved in detailed discussions with Parkhead side for almost seven days and currently looks set to wrap up a deal.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for over a month since Brendan Rodgers departed, achieving six victories out of seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he thought Sunday's match at Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be the last game of his second stint at the helm.

However, O'Neill stated he is to oversee the team for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dundee before Nancy assumes control.

"He is the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, however there remains paperwork still to be completed. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It's been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It's like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat their opponents and Hearts overcome Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could guide his new club to summit of the Premiership with a victory during his first match as manager.

"It's a nice one for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course but good luck to him. At least he takes over a team with some confidence."

That confidence is a result of the interim manager's results on the field in the last month or so, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the ex- Republic of Ireland manager and his players were then able to achieve a first away win in Europe since way back in 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and win on their patch was excellent. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three games remaining to attempt qualification, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

What Comes Next

When asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration on if he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he said. "I'll take a wee think about things after Wednesday evening."

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

"I have learned much. I have had some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration for me in many ways, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That decision is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my input on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is perfectly fine either. It becomes his team the moment he steps into the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."