🔗 Share this article

According to caretaker manager Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is expected to be in the Celtic dugout for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been part of detailed discussions with Glasgow club for almost seven days and currently seems poised to finalize a deal.

Martin O'Neill has served as caretaker manager for more than a month ever since the previous manager resigned, achieving six victories out of seven games, cutting into Hearts' lead in the Scottish Premiership and guiding the Parkhead outfit to League Cup place in the final.

The veteran manager, who once coached the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he believed the visit to Easter Road – a 2-1 victory – was likely to be his final act of his second spell in charge.

Yet, the interim boss disclosed he will manage the team for the midweek league encounter against Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the individual that will be taking over," O'Neill told the radio station. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, however there's some paperwork yet to be sorted. The Dundee game is certainly my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It's been unreal," he added. "It resembles a part of your life where you think 'did that actually occur?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Most certainly."

If the Hoops beat Dundee while the Jambos see off Killie on Wednesday, Nancy could lead Celtic to summit of the Premiership if they win in his debut game as manager.

"That's a good fixture for Nancy against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he takes over a team with some confidence."

The team's morale is a result of the interim manager's results in matches in the last five weeks, where he has suffered just one defeat – a three-one defeat at Midtjylland in the Europa League.

However, the ex- Irish manager along with his squad then bounced back to claim a first victory on the road on the continent since 2021 by defeating Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

A Confidence Boost

"We were defeated by them," O'Neill said. "That was a tough game – a couple of weeks before they defeated Forest, so that was difficult. To go to Feyenoord and secure a victory on their patch was fantastic. We have given the team a chance, with three games left to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was key for belief."

Thoughts on the Future

When asked for his thoughts on his spell as caretaker, O'Neill says it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to carry on in management in the future.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a wee think about things following the match on Wednesday."

"It wasn't easy," he continued. "I felt the fear of failing – that is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast that I was capable of doing this job just as poorly as many other gaffers."

"I have learned a lot. I've got some excellent coaching staff working with me and it has served as a new lease on life for me in several respects, interacting with young people daily."

A Potential Advisory Position?

Regarding if he might remain with the club as an advisor, the former Leicester City, Villa and Ireland manager says that is entirely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That is solely for the incoming manager to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my opinion on matters, that's fine. If not, that's not a problem at all. It becomes his squad the minute he enters the breach."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle sounded on Wednesday.

"Do you mean am I going to get tearful?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be ridiculous."