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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be leading Celtic for Sunday's Premiership match against Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in advanced negotiations with the Glasgow club for nearly seven days and now looks set to finalize a deal.

Martin O'Neill has served as interim boss for over four weeks ever since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, achieving six wins in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, a former boss of Celtic between 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he thought Sunday's trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act of his second stint at the helm.

However, O'Neill revealed he is to lead the team in Wednesday's league encounter with Dens Park before Nancy takes over.

"He is the man who will be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I assumed my time was up on Sunday, however there's some formalities still to be dealt with. The Dundee game will definitely be my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been surreal," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I happy that I took the role? Most certainly."

Should Celtic beat their opponents and the Jambos overcome Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Nancy could lead his new club to summit of the Premiership if they win in his opening fixture as manager.

"That's a good fixture for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A good way to start. It will be a tough match naturally but good luck to him. At least he inherits a team with some confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results in matches in the last month or so, a period where he lost only once – a three-one defeat away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the former Irish manager and his players were then able to achieve their first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 last week.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We've given the team a chance, with three games left to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

Future Ambitions

When asked for his reflections during his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration about whether he desires to carry on in management going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect on everything following the match on Wednesday."

"It was not simple," he added. "I felt the fear of failing – which is an ever-present big concern. I used to boast I could do the job just as poorly as many other managers."

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

Consultancy Role?

Regarding if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He should be given free reign. If he wants my opinion on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem at all. It's very much his squad the minute he enters the job."

Presenter the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill whether he might get emotional or sentimental once the full-time whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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