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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be in the Celtic dugout for this weekend's Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

The head coach has been part of advanced negotiations with the Parkhead side for nearly seven days and now appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for more than a month since the previous manager resigned, achieving six victories in seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had previously suggested he expected Sunday's match at Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act in his return in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he is to manage Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter against Dens Park prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the man who will be taking over," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I assumed my time was up on Sunday, but there's some paperwork yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will assuredly be the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"This has been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I've done it? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat their opponents while the Jambos defeat Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to the top of the table if they win in his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a decent start for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It is going to be a tough match of course but good luck to him. At the very least he inherits a side with a bit of self-belief."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results in matches in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland during European competition.

However, the former Irish manager and his players subsequently managed to achieve a first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To go to De Kuip and win away from home was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games remaining to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

When asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration on if he desires to carry on in management in the future.

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

"It was challenging," he continued. "There was the fear of failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do this job equally as badly as many other managers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent young coaches working with me and it has served as a refresh for me in several respects, working with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the ex- Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is solely for the new boss to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It's very much his team the minute he enters the breach."

Presenter Jim White concluded by asking by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be silly."