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As stated by interim boss Martin O'Neill, the Columbus Crew head coach is slated to be leading Celtic during this weekend's Premiership fixture versus Heart of Midlothian.

The head coach has been part of serious talks with Parkhead side for almost a week and now looks set to finalize an agreement.

O'Neill has been acting as interim boss for over a month ever since Brendan Rodgers resigned, achieving six victories in seven matches, narrowing the lead at the top of the league table while also steering the team to a Premier Sports Cup final spot.

The 73-year-old, who once coached the club from 2000 and 2005, had already said he expected the trip to Easter Road – which ended in a 2-1 win – would be the last game of his return in charge.

Yet, O'Neill stated he is to lead the team for Wednesday's Premiership match with Dens Park prior to Nancy takes over.

"He's the man who will be coming in," O'Neill told the radio station. "I thought it was over on Sunday, however there's some formalities yet to be sorted. Wednesday will definitely be the end for me."

A Surreal Spell

"It has been like a dream," O'Neill continued. "It resembles a chapter in one's life that makes you wonder 'did that really happen?' Am I pleased that I took the role? Without a doubt."

Should the Hoops beat Dundee and the Jambos see off Killie in midweek, the incoming boss could potentially take Celtic to summit of the table with a victory during his first match as manager.

"That's a nice one for him against Hearts," remarked O'Neill. "A gentle introduction. It will be a challenging fixture naturally and good luck to him. At the very least he's getting a team with a bit of confidence."

That confidence stems from the interim manager's results on the field over the past five weeks, a period where he lost only once – a 3-1 defeat at the Danish side during European competition.

Nevertheless, the ex- Irish national team boss and his players subsequently managed to achieve a first away win in Europe since 2021 as they beat Feyenoord 3-1 recently.

Rebuilding Belief

"We lost to Midtjylland," O'Neill recalled. "That proved to be a tough game – a few weeks before they thrashed Nottingham Forest, so that was a challenge. To go to De Kuip and secure a victory away from home was fantastic. We have given ourselves an opportunity, with three matches left to try to qualify, however, the Feyenoord game was key for confidence."

What Comes Next

Upon being asked for his reflections on his time as interim boss, O'Neill stated it has prompted thoughts on if he desires to continue in management going forward.

"I genuinely don't know," he admitted. "I'll take a little think about things following Wednesday evening."

"It wasn't easy," he added. "There was a fear of failure – which is an ever-present big concern. I once joked I could do the job just as poorly as a lot of other gaffers."

"I have learned much. I've got some great coaching staff alongside me and it has served as a refresh for me in several respects, interacting with young people daily."

Consultancy Role?

Regarding whether he will stay at Celtic as an advisor, the ex- Leicester City, Villa and Ireland boss says that is completely up to Wilfried Nancy.

"That decision is solely for Nancy to decide," O'Neill said. "He must be allowed his own space. Should he desire my input on matters, that's fine. If not, that is okay at all. It's very much his team the moment he enters the role."

TalkSport host the interviewer concluded by asking by asking O'Neill if he would be emotional or sentimental when the full-time whistle sounded in the Dundee game.

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