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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts.

The manager has been involved in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost seven days and now seems poised to complete a contract.

O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six victories out of seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the team to Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club from 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he expected the trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game of his second spell in charge.

But, O'Neill stated he will manage the team in Wednesday's Premiership match against Dundee before Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the man set to be arriving," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I believed my time was up on Sunday, however there remains paperwork yet to be sorted. The Dundee game is certainly the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It resembles a part in one's life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If Celtic beat Dundee while Hearts overcome Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could lead his new club to summit of the table if they win during his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a challenging fixture naturally and I wish him well. At the very least he inherits a team with some confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results in matches over the past five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side during European competition.

However, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players were then able to achieve their first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 as they beat the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, so that was difficult. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We have given ourselves a chance, there are three games remaining to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam helped restore confidence."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his thoughts during his time as caretaker, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he would like to continue managing in the future.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing the job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some great young coaches alongside me and it's been a new lease on life personally in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He should be allowed his own space. If he wants my advice on things, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It becomes his team the moment he enters the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."