🔗 Share this article

According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be leading Celtic for this weekend's Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's manager has been part of serious talks with Glasgow club for nearly a week and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for more than a month since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six victories in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the team to a League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, a former boss of the club between 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he thought the trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic in Wednesday's Premiership match with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He is the individual who will be arriving," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought my time was up last weekend, however there's some paperwork yet to be completed. Wednesday is certainly the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It feels like a part of your life that makes you wonder 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic defeat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory in his debut game as manager.

"It's a nice one for him versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a team with some self-belief."

This self-belief is a result of O'Neill's success in matches in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a three-one defeat away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the former Irish manager and his players subsequently managed to achieve their first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated by Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks before they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory on their patch was fantastic. We have given ourselves a chance, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts on his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted thoughts on if he would like to continue in management going forward.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I will have a little think about things following the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a refresh personally in several respects, dealing with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is really for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem either. It's very much his squad the minute he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill if he would be emotional once the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

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