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According to interim boss Martin O'Neill, Wilfried Nancy is expected to be in the Celtic dugout during Sunday's Scottish Premiership match versus Hearts.

The manager has been part of serious talks with the Parkhead side for nearly seven days and currently looks set to finalize a deal.

Martin O'Neill has held the role of caretaker manager for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers departed, notching six victories in seven games, reducing the lead at the top in the league table and guiding the Parkhead outfit to a League Cup place in the final.

The 73-year-old, who previously managed the club from 2000 and 2005, had already indicated he thought Sunday's trip to Hibernian – a 2-1 victory – would be his final act of his second spell at the helm.

But, O'Neill stated he is to oversee Celtic for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dens Park prior to Wilfried Nancy steps into the role.

"He is the individual set to be taking over," O'Neill said to TalkSport. "I assumed my time was up last weekend, however there remains paperwork yet to be sorted. The Dundee game will definitely be the end for me."

A Bizarre Experience

"This has been surreal," he added. "It feels like a part in one's life that makes you wonder 'did all of that really happen?' Am I pleased to have taken it on? Absolutely."

If Celtic defeat Dundee while Hearts defeat Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the incoming boss could guide Celtic to summit of the table if they win during his debut game in charge.

"That's a decent start for him against Hearts," O'Neill said. "A gentle introduction. It is going to be a challenging fixture of course and good luck to him. At least he inherits a side with some confidence."

That confidence is a result of the positive run on the field over the past five weeks, where he has lost only once – a 3-1 loss at Midtjylland in the European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Republic of Ireland national team boss and his players then bounced back to achieve their first away win on the continent since way back in 2021 with a win over Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Restoration of Confidence

"We lost to them," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a hard fixture – a couple of weeks earlier they mauled Nottingham Forest, so that was difficult. To go to De Kuip and win away from home was terrific. We've given the team an opportunity, there are three matches left to try to qualify, however, the victory in Rotterdam was a restoration of belief."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his thoughts on his spell as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted consideration about whether he desires to carry on in management going forward.

"I genuinely am unsure," he admitted. "I will have a wee think on everything after Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was apprehension about failing – that is an ever-present big concern. I once joked that I was capable of doing this job equally as badly as a lot of other managers."

"I have learned a lot. I have had some great young coaches working with me and it's been a reinvigoration personally in several respects, interacting with young people every day."

A Potential Advisory Position?

On the subject of if he might remain at Celtic in a consultancy role, the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Ireland manager stated this is completely the decision of Nancy.

"That is really for the new boss to make," O'Neill stated. "He should be given free reign. Should he desire my advice on things, that is acceptable. If not, that's not a problem either. It becomes his team the minute he steps into the job."

TalkSport host Jim White ended the interview by asking O'Neill whether he might get emotional when the final whistle blew in the Dundee game.

"Do you mean if I will cry?" O'Neill responded. "Don't be silly."