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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be on the Celtic touchline during Sunday's Premiership match versus Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been engaged in serious talks with the Glasgow club for nearly seven days and currently appears ready to wrap up a deal.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for more than four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six wins out of seven games, narrowing the lead at the top in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the club to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought Sunday's trip to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be the last game in his second spell in charge.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee the team in the midweek Premiership match with Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy assumes control.

"He is the individual set to be arriving," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought it was over last weekend, but there remains formalities still to be dealt with. The Dundee game is certainly my last match."

An Unusual Period

"It has been like a dream," he added. "It resembles a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy that I've done it? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat their opponents and Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take his new club to the top of the Premiership with a victory during his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy versus Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a challenging fixture naturally and I wish him all the best. At least he inherits a side full of confidence."

The team's morale comes from the positive run on the field over the past month or so, where he has lost only once – a three-one defeat at the Danish side in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad subsequently managed to secure a first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to them," O'Neill said. "That was a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Nottingham Forest, making it difficult. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We've given ourselves a chance, there are three matches remaining to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has prompted consideration on if he desires to continue managing going forward.

"I honestly am unsure," he admitted. "I'll take a moment to reflect about things following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "There was a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a refresh personally in many ways, interacting with young people every day."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland boss stated this is completely the decision of Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that's fine. If he doesn't, that is okay at all. It becomes his squad the moment he enters the role."

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

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