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As stated by caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic for this weekend's Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been part of detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost seven days and currently appears ready to complete a deal.

O'Neill has held the role of temporary gaffer for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, achieving six wins in seven matches, cutting into Hearts' lead in the league table while also steering the team to a League Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who once coached the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act in his return at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee Celtic in Wednesday's league encounter with Dundee before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual who will be arriving," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I believed my time was up last weekend, however there's some formalities yet to be sorted. The Dundee game will assuredly be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It has been unreal," he added. "It feels like a part of your life where you think 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

If the Hoops defeat Dundee and Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, Nancy could potentially take his new club to the top of the table with a victory during his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a side with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the positive run in matches in the last five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side during Europa League.

However, the ex- Republic of Ireland manager along with his squad then bounced back to achieve their first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was excellent. We have given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches left to try to qualify, but that victory in Rotterdam helped restore confidence."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his thoughts on his time as caretaker, O'Neill stated it has led to consideration about whether he desires to carry on managing going forward.

"I honestly am unsure," he said. "I will have a wee think about things after the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt apprehension about failing – which is always a major worry. I once joked I could do the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some great young coaches alongside me and it's been a new lease on life for me in several respects, working with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester, Villa and Ireland boss stated this is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my opinion on things, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his squad the minute he enters the job."

Presenter Jim White ended the interview if O'Neill if he would be emotional when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

"Are you asking if I will get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be silly."