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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be on the Celtic touchline for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian.

The manager has been engaged in detailed discussions with the Parkhead side for almost a week and currently seems poised to wrap up a contract.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of interim boss for more than four weeks since Brendan Rodgers resigned, notching six wins out of seven games, narrowing Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a Premier Sports Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who once coached Celtic between 2000 and 2005, had previously suggested he believed Sunday's visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act in his return in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he will lead the team for Wednesday's Premiership match against Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He is the person that will be taking over," O'Neill said to the radio station. "I thought my time was up on Sunday, but there remains formalities yet to be dealt with. Wednesday will assuredly be my final game."

An Unusual Period

"It's been like a dream," he added. "It feels like a chapter in one's life where you think 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should Celtic beat Dundee while Hearts see off Kilmarnock in midweek, the incoming boss could lead Celtic to summit of the table with a victory in his debut game as manager.

"That's a good fixture for him versus Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match naturally but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a side full of self-belief."

The team's morale is a result of O'Neill's success in matches in the last five weeks, a period where he suffered just one defeat – a 3-1 loss away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to claim their first victory on the road in Europe since way back in 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"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 go to De Kuip and win away from home was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, with three matches left to attempt qualification, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has prompted thoughts about whether he would like to carry on managing in the future.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a wee think about things following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "There was a fear of failure – which is always a major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing the job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some great young coaches working with me and it's been a refresh for me in many ways, working with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

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

"That is solely for the incoming manager to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given full autonomy. If he wants my opinion on things, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the role."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional when the full-time whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."