🔗 Share this article

According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be in the Celtic dugout for Sunday's Scottish Premiership fixture against Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been engaged in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for nearly a week and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over four weeks ever since the previous manager resigned, notching six wins in seven games, reducing the lead at the top of the league table while also steering the team to League Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who once coached Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he expected the trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he will manage the team in the midweek league encounter with Dundee prior to Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual that will be coming in," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, however there's some paperwork still to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It resembles a part in one's life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If Celtic defeat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory during his debut game as manager.

"It's a nice one for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It will be a difficult game naturally and I wish him well. At the very least he's getting a side with some self-belief."

This self-belief comes from the interim manager's results during games over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat at Midtjylland in the European competition.

However, the former Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad were then able to claim a first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, there are three matches left to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts about whether he would like to carry on in management in the future.

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

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt the fear of failing – which is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in many ways, 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, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. Should he desire my input on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's not a problem either. It becomes his squad the minute he enters the role."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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