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Per the words of interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be on the Celtic touchline during this weekend's Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been engaged in detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost seven days and now looks set to finalize an agreement.

Martin O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for over four weeks since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six victories in seven matches, reducing Hearts' lead of the Scottish Premiership while also steering the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 to 2005, had already indicated he believed Sunday's match at Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – was likely to be his final act in his second spell in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he will lead Celtic for Wednesday's Premiership match against Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy takes over.

"He's the man that will be taking over," stated O'Neill to the radio station. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, but there's some paperwork yet to be completed. The Dundee game will assuredly be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"This has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It feels like a part in one's life where you think 'did that really happen?' Am I happy that I took the role? Absolutely."

If Celtic beat their opponents and the Jambos defeat Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to the top of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"It's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A nice introduction. It is going to be a tough match naturally and I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a team with a bit of self-belief."

That confidence stems from the positive run on the field over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the former Republic of Ireland national team boss along with his squad subsequently managed to secure their first victory on the road in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost by them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a couple of weeks earlier they defeated Forest, making it a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and secure a victory away from home was terrific. We have given ourselves an opportunity, there are three matches remaining to try to qualify, but that Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

Thoughts on the Future

Upon being asked for his reflections during his spell as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to consideration about whether he desires to continue managing going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a moment to reflect on everything after Wednesday evening."

"It was not simple," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is always a major worry. I used to boast I could do the job equally as badly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some great coaching staff working with me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in several respects, dealing with young players daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the ex- Leicester, Villa and Republic of Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Nancy.

"That is really for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill stated. "He must be given full autonomy. If he wants my advice on matters, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the job."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking if O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

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