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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach will be leading Celtic during Sunday's Premiership fixture versus Hearts.

Columbus Crew's head coach has been engaged in serious talks with the Parkhead side for almost a week and now appears ready to complete an agreement.

O'Neill has served as temporary gaffer for over four weeks since Brendan Rodgers stepped down, notching six wins out of seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top in the league table while also steering the team to a League Cup final spot.

The veteran manager, who once coached Celtic from 2000 to 2005, had already said he expected the visit to Hibernian – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his second stint at the helm.

Yet, O'Neill revealed he is to oversee Celtic for Wednesday's league encounter with Dens Park before Nancy assumes control.

"He's the individual who will be taking over," O'Neill told TalkSport. "I thought it was over last weekend, but there remains paperwork still to be completed. Wednesday will assuredly be my final game."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that actually occur?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Absolutely."

Should the Hoops beat Dundee while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock in midweek, Nancy could potentially take his new club to summit of the table with a victory in his opening fixture as manager.

"It's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A nice introduction. It will be a difficult game of course but I wish him all the best. At the very least he inherits a side with a bit of confidence."

The team's morale stems from the positive run on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a three-one defeat away to Midtjylland in the European competition.

However, the ex- Irish manager and his players subsequently managed to claim a first away win on the continent since 2021 with a win over the Dutch club 3-1 last week.

Rebuilding Belief

"We were defeated to them," O'Neill recalled. "That was a difficult match – a few weeks earlier they thrashed Forest, so that was a challenge. To travel to Feyenoord and win away from home was fantastic. We've given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches left to attempt qualification, but that Feyenoord game was key for belief."

Future Ambitions

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his time as interim boss, O'Neill says it has led to thoughts about whether he desires to continue in management in the future.

"I honestly don't know," he said. "I'll take a little think on everything after the match on Wednesday."

"It was challenging," he continued. "I felt a fear of failure – that is an ever-present major worry. I used to boast I could do this job equally as badly as many other gaffers."

"I've learned a lot. I have had some excellent coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a reinvigoration personally in many ways, interacting with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

On the subject of if he might remain with the club in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Villa and Republic of Ireland boss says that is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That is solely for Nancy to make," O'Neill said. "He must be given free reign. Should he desire my input on things, that's fine. If not, that is perfectly fine either. It's very much his team the minute he steps into the role."

Presenter the interviewer ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional once the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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