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According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is slated to be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Scottish Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in serious talks with the Parkhead side for nearly a week and currently appears ready to complete an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as caretaker manager for over a month since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, achieving six victories out of seven matches, reducing the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the club to League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who once coached Celtic between 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he expected the match at Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second spell in charge.

However, O'Neill revealed he will manage Celtic for the midweek Premiership match against Dundee prior to Nancy steps into the role.

"He's the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, however there remains formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday will definitely be my last match."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been unreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part in one's life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I happy that I've done it? Absolutely."

Should Celtic beat their opponents and Hearts overcome Killie in midweek, Nancy could potentially take his new club to summit of the table if they win during his opening fixture in charge.

"That's a nice one for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a difficult game naturally but I wish him well. At the very least he's getting a side with some confidence."

That confidence comes from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to the Danish side in the Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad subsequently managed to achieve their first victory on the road on the continent since way back in 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and win on their patch was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game helped restore confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has led to thoughts on if he would like to carry on in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect about things following Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt the fear of failing – which is always a major worry. I once joked I could do the job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I've got some excellent coaching staff working with me and it's been a reinvigoration for me in several respects, interacting with young players every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager stated this is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is solely for the new boss to make," O'Neill said. "He should be allowed his own space. Should he desire my opinion on things, that is acceptable. If not, that is okay either. It becomes his team the moment he enters the breach."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview if O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill replied. "Please don't be stupid."