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As stated by caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy will be in the Celtic dugout during this weekend's Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been involved in advanced negotiations with Glasgow club for almost a week and currently looks set to finalize an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for more than four weeks since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six victories in seven games, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's match at Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game in his second stint at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill stated he will lead the team for the midweek league encounter with Dens Park before Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual set to be coming in," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I believed my time was up last weekend, but there remains paperwork still to be completed. The Dundee game is certainly the end for me."

An Unusual Period

"This has been unreal," he added. "It resembles a chapter in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I delighted that I've done it? Without a doubt."

Should Celtic beat Dundee while the Jambos see off Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win in his first match as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It will be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At the very least he takes over a side full of confidence."

That confidence stems from O'Neill's success during games in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish national team boss along with his squad were then able to secure their first away win on the continent since 2021 by defeating the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We were defeated to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks before they mauled Forest, making it difficult. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three games remaining to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was a restoration of belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his reflections during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a moment to reflect on everything after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is an ever-present major worry. I once joked I could do the job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some great young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in many ways, dealing with young players every day."

Consultancy Role?

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

"That is really for the new boss to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on things, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the minute he enters the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the final whistle blew on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to cry?" O'Neill replied. "Don't be ridiculous."